Anti-globalisation protests may mar Labour party meet

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, AUG. 15. After giving world leaders a taste of their ire, the anti-globalisation protesters now plan to target the men and women who run Britain to make them `listen' to people's concerns.

The Labour Party's annual conference in Brighton next month is where the protesters have decided to deliver their message, and they have warned that while they are not looking for trouble ``direct action'' is not ruled out and much would depend on ``things like the reaction of Her Majesty's police force'', as a spokesman for Globalise Resistance put it. Nearly 10,000 demonstrators, representing a range of interests including environment and animal rights, are expected to descend on the seafront resort and bring it to a halt.

Besides picketing the conference venue, there are plans for demonstrations and other forms of protests including a possible blockade of the town.

The participants will include many who took part in the recent protests at Genoa which turned horribily violent and resulted in the death of a young protester.

Mr. Guy Taylor of Globalise Resistance, which has been in the forefront of such protests in other parts of the world, said he expected it to be a huge event targeted primarily at the Blair Government's privatisation plans.

``We do not believe in having little demos. We want thousands to be there....Tony Blair doesn't listen to his own party and the conference is a sham so maybe this will make him take some notice,'' he told journalists. He accused Labour of turning a deaf ear to what people were saying and invited ideas for a strategy that would make the party sit up and listen. Globalise Resistance is sending e-mails to its supporters asking them for innovative suggestions on how to shake up the Government.

Other organisations which are backing the protest include the Greens and Socialist Alliance.

Organisers said they would press Labour Party to give them a platform in the conference to represent the views of the people directly affected by New Labour's agenda. Though the date of the protest, September 30, overlaps with the start of a World Bank conference in Washington - also a target of anti-globalisation activists - these groups have chosen to direct their energies at what's going on in Britain's own backyard.

According to organisers, this shows the growing popular resentment against the Blair Government's policies, especially the so-called public sector `reforms' which many see as an euphemism for privatisation.

The Brighton protests would add to the pressure Mr. Blair is already facing from Labour trade unions and party backbenchers over what they see as `creeping' privatisation of public services.

The party has appealed to the protesters not to disrupt the normal life in Brighton saying it hoped that those exercising their right to peaceful protest would not disturb the local residents.

Mr. Blair has been an outspoken critic of the tactics used by `anarchists' at previous protests and is not likely to be amused to be greeted by them on his own turf.

A huge security operation is being launched to make Brighton safe for the country's ruling elite.

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