Violence erupted in Melbourne on Wednesday when several demonstrators protesting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan confronted the police while demonstrating peacefully opposite a large military fair; many were arrested and some injured. The target of demonstrations was the Land Forces international arms fair – a three-day exhibition of the military equipment and weapons, where approximately 1,200 protesters tried to prevent people from entering the exhibition centre.
The protests – by the group Disrupt Land Forces – sought to draw attention to the group’s purported opposition to what it called the “heroization of death, destruction and genocide” connected with weapons developed in Australia. Many of protesters used Palestinian flags and called for Palestinian liberation and protesting for cutting off of the aid to states that practice such oppression, namely Israel.
In this regard, the chaos increased with some protesters tying and burning fires on bins, attacking policeto horses and provoking police officers. In response, police had to use pepper spray on the masses with the purposes of bringing them under control.
Victoria Police stated that 33 people were apprehended for some of the offenses which included assault, arson and obstructing traffic. According to police, about two dozens of officers had received minor injuries, though we have no reports of any police horses that were injured badly.
The protests have been characterized as the biggest protests in Melbourne within many decades, evidencing people’s anger at the arms industry and its financial gains in situations of constant warfare around the world. Several large streets have been closed by the police due to the traffic congestion caused by the expo while other minor disruptions include approximately 1000 Australian and 31 international companies participating in the expositions.
The newly-elected Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said people have the right to protest but the protest should be in a non-violent manner. He said, “You cannot stop defense equipment in the country by harassing the police, throwing objects at them. -They have a job to do-our police must always be respected. ”
The event has statewide effects on the issues of the export of arms and its consequences on conflict situations in the world and Australia inclusion in the exportation of arms. Whereas some people claim that the expo is necessary for the protection of the nation’s interests, others maintain that such fairs lead to international conflict and war.
Day after day, the arms fair goes on, authorities observe citizens’ rights to assembly and protest freedom on one hand but, on the other hand, security issues make it difficult to uphold this constitutional provision in this politically sensitive city of Melbourne.
