Remembering Thatchers destruction of the peace convoy 25 yrs on

international | anti-capitalism | opinion/analysis

Thursday May 01, 2008 00:32

by hasan i sharba

Thatchers destruction of a the peace convoy

1985 marked not only Thatchers attack on the working class via the miners strike, terror in NI, inner city riots,but also Thatchers sending in paramilitary Police to stop the emergence of a counter culture made up of mainly unemployed young people who sought to challenge Thatchers material society.

In 1994 the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) abolished the 1968 Caravan Sites Act, which was set up to ensure official sites for nomadic people in the wake of over 100 gypsie deaths at the hands of vigilantees in the 1960's. In response to this drastic disappearance of traditional sites, some travellers have attempted to buy their own land, only to be denied planning permission in 90% of cases.

For the first time in British legal history tresspass has been made a criminal offence, thereby extending police powers to move travellers on. The number of vehicles that can now park-up together has now been limited to six. Failure to comply with any section of the law will result in travellers' homes being impounded and destroyed at the owner's expense.

"Fifty years ago, if it had been Hitler who had won the Second World War," Says Cookie, a traveller from Norfolk. "The Criminal [In]Justice Act would have become law in occupied Britain six months later."

This very real connection between the CJA and the Nazis persecution of the gypsies was not lost on the 200 people gathered at Stonhenge on VE Day. As they ringed the monument to observe the 3 minutes of silence, their anti-CJA banners dispelled the comfortable myth that tyranny had finally been banished from Europe 50 years hence.

Ten years after women and children were ambushed and beaten-up by police officers in a quiet corner of the Wiltshire countryside, the uneasy feeling that it could so easily happen again will haunt the Beanfield anniversary. The reality, however, is that for someone somewhere a minor Beanfield, either at the hands of the police or vigilantees, happens every day.

The scenes that followed were recorded by media that had evaded the police blockade. The story was international news. 'Dixon of Dock Green' type policing was dead. That which Britain was noted for had now changed to para-military operations against minority groups.

Kim Sabido of ITN, a reporter used to visiting the worlds 'hot spots' did an emotional piece-to-camera as he described the worst police violence that he had ever seen.

"What we - the ITN camera crew and myself as a reporter - have seen in the last 30 minutes here in this field has been some of the most brutal police treatment of people that I've witnessed in my entire career as a journalist. The number of people who have been hit by policemen, who have been clubbed whilst holding babies in their arms in coaches around this field, is yet to be counted...There must surely be an enquiry after what has happened today".

There wasn't.

When the item was nationally broadcast on ITN news later that day, Sabido's voice-over had been removed and replaced with a dispassionate narrator.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3YtmBD_thM&feature=related

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Comments (7 of 7)

travaller prejudice

by Jess

Thu May 01, 2008 00:35

Thatchers legislation was later copied in the republic and used against indigenous travellers here.

rubbish

Thu May 01, 2008 11:44

So the 4 million unemployed in Thatchers Britain were "layabouts".

New age traveller culture became popular because those under 21 had to move every three months to a get benefits, it became an escape from bedsits and slum estates.

http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/henge-history-84-85.html

travellers

Thu May 01, 2008 11:48

And nor did travellers decend on villages, they camped on the land of the wealthy and rich, which is why Thatcher smashed them.

If this is anti social behaviour to you, what do you call that of para military police batoning women holding babies and burning their vehicles, seems you have been brainwashed.

Stonehenge fest & Battle at Beanfield

by magic bob

Fri May 02, 2008 10:44

The reason why the Stonehenge Festivals were stopped and the ambush that is known as The Battle of the Beanfield took place.

Was because if the Festival had gone on for another year,
it would have warranted an automatic Royal Seal of approval, which meant it could never have been stopped.

And that's what really got up the noses of the ruling class that we the people were using their rules to obtain the Freedom to Celebrate at Stonehenge

I know because I was one of the people.

The Wiltshire Cops had drafted in extra support from the British armed forces, to help them with their dirty work.

Yes there were arrests lots of them, but as each case came up into court .Evidence of unwarranted force as filmed by the BBC
was introduced and the cases kept get being put back - until
no action was taken and that in it's self was a rightful victory for the people. On the other hand our vehicles were badly damaged and we got no redress for that!

In my belief that the parallels and conclusions that Jesse is drawing are unwarranted and she is hijacking the Battle of the Beanfield for her own ends.

I have lived in Ireland ever since that debacle have never witnessed the Garda behaving as did the Wilts Con on that day.

Then you've never been ...

by Anon

Fri May 02, 2008 11:06

... to Erris in north Mayo!

October 3rd '06, Non 10th '06, June 11th '07 ongoing ...

Plus

Fri May 02, 2008 11:37

Thatcher's smashing of the miners was intended to disrupt supply of coal so that the market would be opened to north sea gas supplies.

In the early '80's Enterprise Oil was formed. They had John McGoldrick in Ireland from 1984. He got very friendly with Bertie's fundraiser Des Richardson. In 1987 Ray Burke gave away the people's right to 50% of their own oil/gas. In 1992 Bertie Ahern went further and set the terms in the '92 Finance Act.

On 1st January 1993 Enterprise Oil applied for a licence under the new terms where they 'discovered' the Corrib Gas Field.

Enterprise Oil was bought lock, stock and boe by Shell in 2002 when Philip Watts was trying to cover up Shell's over-statement of reserves...

Shell is now calling the shots in north Mayo where they have been resisted for the past six years.

The resistance continues.

You what ?

Fri May 02, 2008 11:41

Sorry anon but dont recall anything about the Garda setting your vehicles on fire and burning your homes..... or am I missing something ?

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Remembering Thatchers destruction of the peace convoy 25 yrs on

Comments (7 of 7)