Danish Court rules that climate activists are innocent
by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Copenhagen, Denmark: The Copenhagen City Court has on August 31, 2010 ruled that Natasha Verco and Noah Weiss are innocent. The two climate activists were charged for organizing illegal activities during the COP15 summit in Copenhagen in 2009. But the charges did not stand in court, so judges ruled. The verdict discredits the violent methods adopted by police during the climate summit, when politically active people were denied their democratic right to criticize the climate negotiations.
Both Natasha and Noah feel, that the case should put an end to the police undemocratic methods: "I see this as a victory, not only for us, but for the legal rights in Denmark. And it also means that no longer can the police use manipulation of evidence and lies to repress politically active people. I assume that also Tannie and Stine, who are going to court in October, will be acquitted as well", says Noah Weiss.
During the COP 15 summit in Copenhagen 2000 people have been arrested during the climate summit in December, and many were preventively arrested during the big climate demonstration on December 12th, 2009. These incidents, has later been criticized, among others, by Amnesty International.
Natasha Verco and Noah Weiss have been accused to having planned violence against police, disturbance of public order and vandalism. These are the charges could have lead to several years of prison and deportation.
The entire actions by the police in Copenhagen, in the same way as in Britain and recently in Canada, are using laws against peaceful protesters that were and are intended to be used against terrorists and not people protesting.
The more we see of this the more we all must come to realize that we are witnessing the rise of a police state almost on a world-wide basis and the action against the like of Julian Assange of Wikileaks also points to the fact that we are headed for real trouble
We, the people, the world over, must hold our governments and our police forces to account for their actions, whichever way. This must not and cannot be allowed to continue.
© 2010
