Andy Bowden
21st July 2005, 16:12
As Comrades know, the G8 summit this year was held in Scotland at Gleneagles. What Comrades may not be aware of is that the police, Scottish Parliament and local council bent backwards to try and stop the right to protest at Gleneagles.
This is especially disgraceful as the Scottish Parliament voted for a motion initiated by National Convener of the SSP (Scottish Socialist Party) that guaranteed the right to protest at Gleneagles: The parliament refused to enforce it's own motion.
In response to this inaction by the Scottish Parliament to defend the right to protest the 4 present SSP MSP's (Members of the Scottish Parliament), Colin Fox, Rosie Kane, Frances Curran and Carolyn Leckie staged a peaceful protest in the parliament chamber, holding placards calling for defense of democracy and disrupting parliamentary activities for half an hour.
The Standards commitee of the Scottish Parliament then voted to have the SSP's MSP's wages docked in half, suspension from parlaiment for a month and to remove all wages from their caseworkers - who did not take part in this protest. This response is totally unprecedented in comparison to previous protests in parliament. I would also add that the Green party voted alongside the Govt in this matter, just in case any Comrades have any illusions about "progressives" such as them.
In response, the SSP is going to take the Scottish Parliament to the European court of Human Rights, to try and reverse this decision. However, with the lack of finances the party will need donations and support from Comrades internationally.
We have created an internet petition, for Socialists to sign to show support for the right to protest, and the right of the duly elected representatives of the SSP to take their seats in parliament
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/...0?ltl=112180010 (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/754099600?ltl=112180010)
Whatever disagreements Comrades here may have with the policies and tactics of the SSP I'm sure the Revleft community are united for the right to protest and for representatives to take their seats in parliament.
VENCEREMOS!
This is especially disgraceful as the Scottish Parliament voted for a motion initiated by National Convener of the SSP (Scottish Socialist Party) that guaranteed the right to protest at Gleneagles: The parliament refused to enforce it's own motion.
In response to this inaction by the Scottish Parliament to defend the right to protest the 4 present SSP MSP's (Members of the Scottish Parliament), Colin Fox, Rosie Kane, Frances Curran and Carolyn Leckie staged a peaceful protest in the parliament chamber, holding placards calling for defense of democracy and disrupting parliamentary activities for half an hour.
The Standards commitee of the Scottish Parliament then voted to have the SSP's MSP's wages docked in half, suspension from parlaiment for a month and to remove all wages from their caseworkers - who did not take part in this protest. This response is totally unprecedented in comparison to previous protests in parliament. I would also add that the Green party voted alongside the Govt in this matter, just in case any Comrades have any illusions about "progressives" such as them.
In response, the SSP is going to take the Scottish Parliament to the European court of Human Rights, to try and reverse this decision. However, with the lack of finances the party will need donations and support from Comrades internationally.
We have created an internet petition, for Socialists to sign to show support for the right to protest, and the right of the duly elected representatives of the SSP to take their seats in parliament
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/...0?ltl=112180010 (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/754099600?ltl=112180010)
Whatever disagreements Comrades here may have with the policies and tactics of the SSP I'm sure the Revleft community are united for the right to protest and for representatives to take their seats in parliament.
VENCEREMOS!