Letter to DK Embassy re Cop15 Right to Protest

Below is the text of a letter signed by several people from UK NGOs about the right to protest in Copenhagen around the COP15. It has appeared in the Guardian newspaper website and a similar letter has been sent to the Danish embassy.

Previous coverage of the toughening of the public order legislation includes:
http://www.cphpost.dk/component/content/47246.html?task=view

"Justice Minister Brian Mikkelsen said people inhibiting police work would be sentenced to 40 days in prison instead of just getting a fine.

The Liberal-Conservative government's package will almost certainly be implemented, as it has the initial support of both the Danish People's Party and the Social Democrats.

But Stine Gry Jonassen, the spokesperson for Climate Justice Action, said the move was an unnecessary provocation.

‘They're criminalising the global climate movement being created by assuming beforehand it will be violent.'

In addition to the 40-day mandatory jail sentence for hindering police work, the government's proposal plans to include an increase of up to 50 percent prison time over what is presently allowed for vandalism.

All fines related to civil disturbance will be made five times higher than the current allowable amounts - up to 5000 kroner.

The civil disobedience package will also provide police with more mobile video surveillance equipment to document the reasons for arrests made at COP15.

Many experts have warned that the government's proposal is unlikely to cut down on the number of violent instances by activists at the conference."

For note, alegal team of law-students has been set up in Copenhagen by the protest mobilisation. They have worked out a paper on basic rights in Denmark for Danes and foreigners, and you can download it here:
http://www.climate-justice-action.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Your_legal_rights_in_Denmark.pdf

Contact climate09legalaid@gmail.com, for coordination.

Defend the freedom to protest in Denmark Petition:
http://danlaw.epetitions.net/

Our right to protest in Copenhagen
The Guardian, Wednesday 4 November 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/04/copenhagen-climate-talks-protest-law


It is telling of the times in which we live that the Danish government today is seeking to curtail legitimate protests around the Copenhagen climate summit this December (Countdown to Copenhagen, 2 November). The summit will see thousands of people from across the world come to Copenhagen for what are being lauded as the most important international talks on climate in history. These will include government officials and corporate lobbyists, who will seek to influence the outcome of the deal to the advantage of rich countries and big business. It is therefore critical that civil society comes together to stand beside developing countries, who so often are sidelined in negotiations, to call for climate justice.

It's deeply worrying that a new law proposed by the Danish government, to come into force just days before the start of negotiations, seeks to extend police powers for arresting protesters. The law would allow police the power to pre-emptively detain people for 12 hours when no crime has been committed, and raise fines for failing to disperse from a demonstration to more than £350. The police in the UK have come under unprecedented criticism for their disproportionate policing of protest. The Danish government would do well to learn from mistakes here, rather than mimicking similarly draconian policies. We support trade unions, environmental and other organisations in Denmark in their valid protests against the law package and call for the Danish government to uphold the right to legitimate protest.

Andy Atkins Friends of the Earth

Nick Dearden Jubilee Debt Campaign

Deborah Doane World Development Movement

Ian Leggett People & Planet

Daleep Mukarji Christian Aid

Oscar Reyes Carbon Trade Watch

Kevin Smith Platform