|
The Danish parliament has passed legislation which will give
police sweeping powers of 'pre-emptive' arrest and
extend custodial sentences for acts of civil disobedience.
The law comes ahead of the UN climate talks which start on
7 December and are expected to attract thousands of activists.
Under the new powers, Danish police will be able to detain
people for up to 12 hours whom they suspect might break the
law in the near future. Protesters could also be jailed for
40 days under the hurriedly drafted legislation - dubbed by
activists as the 'turmoil and riot' law. The law was
first announced on 18 October.
The Danish ministry of justice said that the new powers of
'pre-emptive' detention would increase from 6 to 12
hours and apply to international activists. If protesters
are charged with hindering the police, the penalty will increase
from a fine to 40 days in prison. Protesters can also be fined
an increased amount of 5,000 krona (€671) for breach
of the peace, disorderly behaviour and remaining after the
police have broken up a demonstration.
The Danish police also separately issued a statement
in August applying new rules and regulations for protests
at the climate conference, warning that 'gatherings that
may disturb the public order must not take place'.
Earlier this month, The Guardian published a letter
by environmental activists that described the new law as "deeply
worrying" and called for the Danish government to uphold their
right to legitimate protest.
Tannie Nyboe, a spokewoman from campaigning group Climate
Justice Action in Denmark, said the new law was designed
to control civil disobedience during the summit. "These laws
are a big restraint in people's freedom of speech and it will
increase the police repression for anyone coming to Copenhagen
to protest. Denmark normally boasts of how open and democratic
a country we are. With this law we can't boast about this
anymore.
"It will increase the repression of any protester or activist
coming to Copenhagen. This law creates an image of anyone
concerned about climate change being a criminal, which will,
of course, also influence the general treatment of any activist
who comes into contact with the police or other authorities."
A Danish justice ministry official confirmed that the laws
had been passed and would come into effect before the climate
conference starts on 7 December.
|
