Spokesperson for Climate Justice Action arrested by plainclothes police

On Tuesday afternoon police arrested the German activist and spokesperson for Climate Justice Action, Tadzio Müller, by Bella Center. Police will try to detain him for planning riots.

Af english - 16. december 2009

Today, shortly after three pm, three officers in plainclothes arrested a leading member of and spokesperson for the network Climate Justice Action that plans to disturb the COP15 summit tomorrow.

The person in question is the German activist Tadzio Müller, who has previously functioned as spokesperson for the network and has been described by police as a "key figure" in the organisation of Wednesday’s ’Reclaim Power’ action.

Police confirm the arrest which took place in connection with a Climate Justice Action’s press conference in the Bella Center earlier today.

Police will attempt to have Müller imprisoned for planning of violence and public disturbances in connection with the COP15 summit.

The police inspector in charge has told that the German activist has been taken in to interrogation and will be brought before a court tomorrow (Wednesday). Police will try to have him put in custody for planning to break paragraph 119 (violence against a state representative) and 134a (violent public gathering).

"It concerns future intentions, he hasn’t done any of these things yet." says Svend Foldager.

Which type of unrest do you think that the man is planning?

I don’t have any comment to that.

Have you arrested him because he will take part in the ’Reclaim Power’ action tomorrow at the Bella Center?

I don’t have any comment to that.

Enhedslisten protest

Climate Justice Action had just held a press conference in Bella Center when the police made the arrest. At the press conference Tadzio Müller had told among other things, about the network’s plans to non-violently break through the police lines on Wednesday and create an alternative summit in the area around the Bella Center.

According to the police, two other "key figures" in the activist milieu are already in custody; an American and an Australian.

The latest arrest has led Enhedslisten to direct a sharp criticism at the police.

"It is completely wrong to arrest the spokesperson from a declared non-violent organisation. Where are we going if we begin to arrest spokespeople from law-abiding and non-violent political groups?", asks Line Barfod.

"We are sending some very bad signals to the outside world at the moment. First mass arrests of hundreds of innocent demonstrators and now the arrests of the spokespeople for the protest movements. This doesn’t belong in a democracy." She declares in a press release.

Climate Justice Action think that the arrest is unfounded and have called it sabotage of their action tomorrow.

"When the police decide to arrest our spokesperson, it seems like a clear attempt to force all critics of the COP process to be quite. We have always been open about our people civil disobedience action tomorrow and told what will happen and how. Instead, the police have decided to go in and close the mouths of all critical voices" says Kevin Smith from the network in a press release.

"Tadzio has been our spokesperson and has openly criticised the COP15 process; it is certain that he has been arrested because of his role as spokesperson. This is a huge democratic problem." says Stine Gry Jonassen from Climate Justice Action.

Skriv kommentar