George Bush arrives in Europe for the first G8 summit since the annexing of Iraq
Tens of thousands of people responded to international
One affinity group, consisting of seventeen people from ten different countries,
Protesters wait until they get confirmation that a convoy of delegates has left Geneva.
They proceed to block the road
A barricade made from banners is erected to stop the traffic
Further along the bridge a rope barricade is stretched across the Motorway
In the valley below, one activist, Martin prepares to climb up the rope.
Ribbons are tied on the rope to make it clearly visible.
Both are experienced climbers
The banners say in French "If you pass this point you will kill two people"
The first police are arriving. The senior officer is in the grey shirt.
The police try and open the road after only a few seconds
The officer in blue is the man who will cut the rope. Later at a press
The activist in the high visibility jacket, another of the safety precautions used
The protesters try and talk to the senior officer. But he is always on his mobile phone,
He chooses to ignore all attempts to communicate. On the video the SO is saying
later he says he doesn't care if the climbers break their necks.
The police officer who will cut the rope walks up from behind and rips up the banner,
The activist are trying to calm the situation down.
They are talking directly to the motorist, explaining the situation.
The SO is running to clear this barricade, demonstrating how frantic he is to open the road.
It appears to be his top and only priority.
This second barricade is a spontaneous response to the police trying to open the road.
Protesters are trying desperately to defend their colleagues who are
He needlessly attacks a camera person.
Other officers are arriving. They too immediately start clearing away the activists.
The scream in the background is from the police liason person
The officer in blue is looking down the road at the rope barricade.
These officers have crossed the central reservation.
By this time there are three different police forces on the scene,
No safety precautions have been taken by the police.
By now they are not trying to block the delegation but simply trying to prevent
By opening the road in such an ad hoc manner the police have enabled cars
Endangering their own lives and the lives of the protesters
One policeman who has just arrived on the scene, walks up to the rope.
A protester and another police officer move in and stop him.
The police are just waving the car drivers on. No where do we see them
This officer walks straight past his SO.
Without talking to the policeman holding the rope up, or checking in any way.
"I don't understand"... "You understand well"
"How is Martin" Martin perhaps has some fractures. At the moment he's OK he's talking
"Arrest those Mafia shit"
Solidarity actions spread across Europe
Martin broke his back, pelvis and left foot in the 20 meter fall.
Gesine, the other climber is recovering from post traumatic stress disorder.
The police have not been charged or suspended from duty
Most of the activists have been charged with blocking the road and endangering life.
In the run up to the trial the Aubonne support group campaigns
Production, Hamish and Ben. Voice Tabbitha. Video IMC Italy.
Thanks to
Donations are welcome and needed. Bank details on.
Please support political prisoners - They are inside for us, we are outside for them.
calls to disrupt the opening ceremony.
decided to block a motorway to stop some of the delegates arriving
On the other side Gesine prepares to lower herself down on the same rope.
without giving themselves any time to assess the situation.
conference the police will claim that he arrived late on the scene.
whilst blocking the road. Is indicating with his hands as well as words about the climbers.
presumably to his control centre.
"get them away, get them away".
which says "if you pass this point you will kill two people".
hanging from the bridge.
the SO is pulling her along by her hair.
They have seen Martin hanging from the bridge.
military, traffic and regular.
Activists are all over the road, trying again and again to stop the traffic.
any harm to the climbers.
to charge through the barricade.
He gets his knife out and is about to cut it.
talking to the car drivers asking them to drive slowly or carefully.
He cuts it.
he's conscious, he's very cold but he needs to go to a hospital urgently.
for justice and against repression.
-Hamish for editing this video
- to all the people who came or stayed in Lausanne
and supported us through the difficult times. -
- to the amazing local support -
-to our lawyer Jean-Pierre Garbade -
- to everybody who did solidarity actions, benefit gigs etc. -
-To all the people who sent cards, letters, emails, money, good thoughts...it really helped. -
- to all the wonderful people who are working hard
to fight repression and police impunity. -
www.aubonnebridge.net