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Update 1
The factory rented to be used like a meeting place for the anti-nato activists was attacked by Romanian riot police and from 50 people 30 were arrested ….
Update 2
We saw what is happening in Bucharest on TV. Riot police don’t let journalist to go inside. In this situation we are afraid that the secret police will try to implant some “evidence”.
Update 3
Now the police try to accuse our friends of being violent because they tried to attacked the bodyguard of the factory , because he didnt want to let them in. Apparently the bodyguard call the police...Its evident that they try to make some serious accusation against them...
Update 4
46 from 50 were arrested till now...we saw on tv 2 who were free and talk with the press
Da Indymedia Romania:
The access to the Projectile event in Bucharest is for the moment denied.
event is taking place forbids the access , even though the place was rented, legally .The whole area is surrounded by the Police and journalists.
In the morning, someone tried to get out of the building and immediately he got surrounded by the police men. The person went back in the building to avoid getting arrested.
The site which was giving information about the summit (www.contra-doxa.com) is inaccessible since yesterday.
From the latest news, 50 anti-NATO activists got evacuated and detained, the police violently entered the place where people were having discussions considering militarization and war.
Once again, Romania is showing her totalitarian face.
Any kind of solidarity is welcomed.
TAKE ACTION; SPREAD THE WORD,FIGHT THE CAPITALIST WAR!
SMASH N.A.T.O.!
Update 5:
Bucharest police said that the people were arrested because they started a fight with the bodyguard an the owner of the factory which they rented. Those two didnt let a car to go inside because of the "inflammable materials". Its about paint for banners. Anyway the police sand there the special trained officers to search for explosives.
So we are still afraid about what they are trying to accuse our friends..
Update 6
46 persons were arrested, they were severally beaten in the way to .the
police stations and they were also under death treat. On guy from Iasi
(Gheorghe) was hospitalized and he was beaten even in the hospital.
Another girl ask the police to go to the hospital...Small protest was
organized in the front of the police station 11.
Update7
NOTE: This is not a collective statement, but rather an individual eyewitness report from an indymedia journalist who was involved with the anti-NATO mobilizations in Bucharest
Bucharest, Romania, April 2, 2008
(Please see www.contra-doxa.com for more background info on the NATO summit in Bucharest, as well as the anti-NATO convergence)
At approximately 12:30pm today, hundreds of police descended on the convergence center of the anti-NATO gathering in Bucharest. At this point, some organizers on the scene estimate that 46 arrests in all have been made. All the arrests were made inside the convergence center. There was no demonstration happening. Many of the police were wearing ski masks, and were very hostile to journalists trying to access the scene.
The convergence center was located near the center of Bucharest, which is hosting a NATO summit that just got underway today. It was located in an industrial space which the anti-NATO demonstrators had legally rented. According to the police, there were accusations that some protestors used aggression against one of the guards near the site.
By 3:15pm, 3 large paddy wagons had already left the site, carring demonstrators inside. Some other protestors and media were gathered on the other side of the street, chanting to release the demonstrators.
A police spokesperson gave a few statements to the media in Romanian. (I don't speak Romanian, but the following info was losely translated for me by a Romanian speaker) According to the spokesperson, the police found anti-NATO banners and some paint inside the convergence center. There was nothing illegal. He stated that the protestors were not terrorists, and that they had been taken to the police station to have their identities verryfied. Among the group of people arrested were local activists as well as foreigners. The spokesperson also stated that this police intervention is not against the national consitution of Romania, and that liberty of expression is guaranteed.
At this point (5:10pm Bucharest time), all the protestors are still being detained. One organizer has stated that a few were badly beaten.
It should be noted that these arrests were made before any organized actions against the NATO summit had taken place, and also in a context where the authorities have stated they would not tolerate any opposition to NATO during the summit. The local corporate media has also been in a frenzy about "dangerous anarchists" who are going to descend on the city and break store windows. One TV news report on Realitatea TV yesterday morning encouraged viewers to throw rocks at any demonstrators that they see on the streets.
Hopefully we can have a more complete report soon. Keep checking www.contra-doxa.com or romania.indymedia.org for more info. I will also try to upload photos and video I took.