arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

"First I'll tell the facts in chronological way. I was arrested at 9:45 near the barracks of the police of Etterbeek. Together with two legal teams I was going to the police barracks because we had heard there were about 30 people detained there. When we arrived there, we saw about five people were being trounced by the cops. a girl was being pulled by her hair down the sidewalk. As a member of the legal team I went to them. At that moment I was arrested. It didn't take long before I understood they were targeting me because they were annoyed by my actions during the manifestation and in Turn & Taxi. I heard a cop say : " This is the one we saw earlier this morning". I was the only one to be arrested. I am being accused of four things: Slandering the police; unarmed resistance; hitting and wounding a public servant and conspiracy.
I was searched, and was the only one who had to undress. Pictures were made and I was detained until the next afternoon. I was questioned by the prosecuting attorney. There I received more information on the background of the case. The legal teams are suspected of inciting the rioters to smash the banks. The Black Block which was operating yesterday on the fringes of the demonstration, is claimed to have been incited by the legal teams. The P.A. referred to the "Morgen" (ed. A flemish newspaper), which had supposedly reported this.

As far as I'm concerned is this an attempt to politically counter the actions of the legal teams. Possibly the police is surprised by our presence and efficiency. I am certain no one of our team has incited the people that belong to the "Black Block". This is not our task.. Our role is to check if the police doesn't go beyond it's mandate unnoticed. By doing this we have obviously stepped on a few toes…. By attacking us, the police does not only violate the right to protest but also the right to have a good defence.

I was released because not all written reports were in yet. I'm afraid the police will try to compile a dossier about this. For now, no charges were filed. I can't be judged trough the fast procedure, but it's likely there will be a summons.

The attack on the legal team is an important political fact. We will have to answer to this with suitable political means."

Hey there,
I dont get why they provocing it. All this wouldnt happen if it wasnt for the cops surrounding us with their shields and sticks. Thats just asking for an aggressive resonse. I dont get it.

i was wondering that there is this legal team marked openly in the demonstration. i think it is a really good idea, because you don't necessarly have to phone them for information, but go directly to them, also in case of a situation. (i also would like to know how this worked out.)
but having the legal team structure openly like this, we have to be beware of being a target for the police at the same time.
everybody knows it's totally bullshit, that the legal team ever incited people in the demo to riot- and anyways this isn't the case and it shouldn't be the case, it's what they want. with stories like this they want to attack our structure and provoke discussion.

important is, that we all feel responsable for the people which are getting arrested and support the legalteam as much as possible with information about arrestments and undercovercops and so on.
and SHOW solidarity!!not only having it in our minds, maybe stay for a few days longer, if help is needed.