Vanguard November 2011 p. 1
Bill F.
The brutal police assault on the ‘Occupy Melbourne’ demonstrators last month revealed the true nature of class dictatorship in Australia. Generous pay increases for police were announced a few days later.Police were directed to use aggressive and forceful methods to disperse an assembly of several hundred mainly young protesters who had been peacefully camped in the City Square since the previous week, as part of the global ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement.
There was no negotiation, just an ultimatum to pack up and leave within two hours. This was backed up by the mobilisation of 400 police, including the riot squad, the dog squad, undercover and Special Branch spies and mounted police. Large brawler vans and several ambulances were on standby.
Not intimidated by this show of force, the protesters opted to stay put, saying they had a right to express their disgust at the inequalities and injustices in society. Many were deeply shocked by the violence of the police that quickly followed.
Protesters and even bystanders, were pepper-sprayed, punched, kicked, eye-gouged, dragged by the hair, had ‘pressure point’ holds applied to inflict maximum pain, and were generally treated with contempt. Dozens were arrested and thrown into paddy vans. Any resistance was met with brutal violence, and many injuries were inflicted.
Under constant provocation and harassment by the police, the demonstrators regrouped and marched to the sanctuary of Trades Hall, giving BHP-Billiton a rev on the way. Legal claims against the police are certain to follow.
Why the change?
Not intimidated by this show of force, the protesters opted to stay put, saying they had a right to express their disgust at the inequalities and injustices in society. Many were deeply shocked by the violence of the police that quickly followed.
Protesters and even bystanders, were pepper-sprayed, punched, kicked, eye-gouged, dragged by the hair, had ‘pressure point’ holds applied to inflict maximum pain, and were generally treated with contempt. Dozens were arrested and thrown into paddy vans. Any resistance was met with brutal violence, and many injuries were inflicted.
Under constant provocation and harassment by the police, the demonstrators regrouped and marched to the sanctuary of Trades Hall, giving BHP-Billiton a rev on the way. Legal claims against the police are certain to follow.
Why the change?
After years of generally peaceful demonstrations in Melbourne, this change of attitude by the local authorities needs to be examined closely.
The election of the Liberal government in Victoria last year put the police under the control of Premier Ted Baillieu. Former Liberal Party leader, Robert Doyle, had earlier been elected Lord Mayor of Melbourne. Why, all of a sudden, did they get the urge to smash a relatively small protest with such a massive show of strength?
Focus on corporate power
The election of the Liberal government in Victoria last year put the police under the control of Premier Ted Baillieu. Former Liberal Party leader, Robert Doyle, had earlier been elected Lord Mayor of Melbourne. Why, all of a sudden, did they get the urge to smash a relatively small protest with such a massive show of strength?
Focus on corporate power
Certainly, as servants of the monopoly capitalist ruling class and apologists for imperialism, they would not have welcomed the focus of the protest directed at the power, wealth and corruption of the big banks and corporate monopolies. Perhaps they just wanted to copy the example of Mayor Bloomberg in New York, who sent in the cops to evict demonstrators from Zuccotti Park.
Other factors in play might have been the forthcoming visit of US President Obama, which is certain to attract much more militant public opposition, and possibly the current visit of the English Queen.
A more compelling reason is the recent announcement that the Victorian government intends to pass its own legislation aimed specifically at building and construction workers and their union, increasing the range of attacks and legal restrictions already enforced by the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).
Crisis compels class struggle
The ruling class is compelled to attack the most militant section of the working class, hoping to isolate it before the global economic crisis bites harder in Australia and sweeps broader sections of the working class and working people into action. Similarly, circumstances compel the working people to resist and struggle against the bosses’ attacks.
The ruling class knows very well that this legislation will generate a wave of anger and resistance by construction workers and their allies in the working class. Large militant protests are likely. As defenders of the status quo, the police have to be trained and ready.
In this context, the attack on the peaceful demonstration could be seen as a rehearsal, testing tactics and discipline before taking on the organised working class, and sending a message to all unions.
Class rule in Australia relies mainly on the deception of parliamentary elections and unspecified ‘democratic rights’ to divert the struggles of the people into dead ends. Occasionally, the ruling class has to resort to force and violence when the deception fails. Their show of force is also a sign of weakness.
The working class and the people’s movement will not be intimidated, and will continue to struggle for a furure free from the greed and exploitation of the corporate monopolies, and the hypocrisy and violence of the system that supports them.
The ruling class knows very well that this legislation will generate a wave of anger and resistance by construction workers and their allies in the working class. Large militant protests are likely. As defenders of the status quo, the police have to be trained and ready.
In this context, the attack on the peaceful demonstration could be seen as a rehearsal, testing tactics and discipline before taking on the organised working class, and sending a message to all unions.
Class rule in Australia relies mainly on the deception of parliamentary elections and unspecified ‘democratic rights’ to divert the struggles of the people into dead ends. Occasionally, the ruling class has to resort to force and violence when the deception fails. Their show of force is also a sign of weakness.
The working class and the people’s movement will not be intimidated, and will continue to struggle for a furure free from the greed and exploitation of the corporate monopolies, and the hypocrisy and violence of the system that supports them.
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