143 arrested in London

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph....r-Congo-protests.html

Haven't we enough of our own protesters without these foreign nationals causing mayhem in our capital over what is happening thousands of miles away in the Democratic Republic of Congo?

If they are all that concerned, why don't they leave England and go back to the Congo and sort the trouble out there?

[Gromit]

Did it occur to you that these opponents of Congos President Kabila might want to return, but the stolen election means they cannot?

[douglas9401]

Rhetorical question there Gromit? :)

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

That may well be, but why do we in this country have to put up with their disruptive protests, damaging property, cars and shops, as well as threatening members of the public?

But then as always you are always ready to defend such groups, unless of course the are Right-Wing groups.

[Gromit]

I have not defended anyone. Certainly damaging property and threating the public are serious offences and they deserve to be arrested.

I was merely pointing out that they might have been angry because they want to go home. In your haste to condemn anyone with a black face, you have failed to think this one through.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

Gromit

There you go again with your usual method of making insulting remarks to somehow belittle me.

I would condemn them no matter what colour faces they happened to have.

They have abused our hostility, and therefore deserve to be sent back from whence they came, and if it wasn't for that infernal European Court of Human Rights, we would be allowed to do so.

[sandyRoe]

If these people are legitimate refugees we couldn't, or shouldn't, send them back. It has nothing to do with court decisions on 'human rights'.

[Gromit]

Whilst not defending their crimes, most will have been arrested for obstruction, vandalism or affray. My guess is that not many will actually be charged. For those that are charged, deportation would be an excessively harsh punishment for something that would carry a £50 fine.

[sandyRoe]

AOG, do you remember the Countryside Alliance protest in London? Some of those tweedy thugs attacked the police. Should they have been sent back to the shires?

[anotheoldgit]

sandyRoe & Gromit

sandyRoe firstly I will ignore your second rather silly comparison.

But to both of you I say this, these criminals are more than likely to be 'asylum seekers' and since they have been shown up to be exactly what they are, criminals, trouble makers, abusers of the general public, and destroyers of vehicles and buildings, they have foregone any privilege of being freely accommodated in this country.

At the moment we have enough of our own that are only too willing to carry out these deeds at every given chance, we do not need to import more to add to the increasing cost of policing, emergency services, plus repairs to buildings etc.

Has we are constantly told "We just cannot afford it".

[Gromit]

// destroyers of vehicles and buildings //

No vehicles or buildings have been destroyed. Are we discussing the same incident, or are you unable to read a report without changing it into lies?

[cathfromsaron]

because they will be shot ... ?

[DTCwordfan]

Have you even been to a genuinely repressed country re politics and human rights, AOG?

Which ones and what did you learn? Would you like to live there? What were your reactions.

From what you write here and your comments elsewhere, I think not.....

[Gromit]

// Police initially said they had arrested 143 people in connection to the demonstration but on Sunday revised that figure down to 139.

In a statement, Scotland Yard said seven people had been charged - one with assaulting a police officer - three people had been cautioned, 10 released on bail and that three had been released with no further action to be taken. Some 116 people remain in custody. //

[mushroom25]

in previous demonstration scenarios, the police tactic has been to "kettle" the protestors for hours without access to water or anything else.

yet in this situation it would appear they cleared a tube station for them and provided them with their own private train to seven sisters.

a change in police tactical policy? if not, why was it dealt with in this way and not by kettling?

[rov1100]

Shouldn't they be flying back to the Congo to demonstrate?

[boxtops]

Have you seen what it's like in the Congo? they are demonstrating to tell the rest of us what it's like - most of us haven't got a clue.

[old-wos-is-name]

why do people demonstrate in this country? the people back in the congo will probably never hear about it.

[Gromit]

// well, according to the very passionate voices on the streets tonight, the issue is years of mass rape, genocide, and repression (with UN estimates of more than 5 million, nearly a tenth of the population, murdered in the past decade) and the western states' support for an illegitimate leader after rigged elections. //

A report with more background here

http://www.indymedia....1/12/490081.html?c=on

[anotheoldgit]

DTcrosswordfan

/// Have you even been to a genuinely repressed country re politics and human rights, AOG? ///

I have been to Cuba, but as a tourist one doesn't come into contact with their politics, enough to say I found the Cubans a pleasant and happy carefree people.

As to would I wish to live there, I could not see any problem. providing that I obeyed their laws and respected their culture, seeing that it would be I who was a guest in their country.

[anotheoldgit]

boxtops

/// Have you seen what it's like in the Congo? they are demonstrating to tell the rest of us what it's like - most of us haven't got a clue. ///

Or are even interested, why should we be? Or are you suggesting we send a 'Gun Boat' out there to sort them out?

It would also seem that some British are far from happy with this country judging by the recent riots and protests.

But do you think them in the Congo care a toss?