Isis at WSIS onsite reports from Geneva--11 December
Alternative Media Space at the WSIS Raided
by Mavic Cabrera-Balleza, Isis International-Manila
On the eve of the phase one of Word Summit on Information Society, the first
international multi-stakeholder meeting that aims to ensure people$BCT(B access to
information and communication, police raided the Polymedia Lab, an open public
space in downtown Geneva set up by independent media practitioners as a venue
for skill-sharing and experimenting with communication technologies.
At 10 on 09 December 2003, about 16 police officers turned up at the Polymedia
Lab, blocked the doors, denied access to participants and visitors arriving at
the space, and demanded those that were present to leave and take all equipment
out. The first reason given was that the owner of the space had not given his
permission for it to be used. However, an interview with one of the
representatives of Geneva 03 collective, organisers of the Polymedia Lab,
revealed that they have permission from the lessee who actually gave them the
key to the building.
Eventually, the police cited security reasons and health and safety issues for
their action. This was countered by members of the Geneva 03 collective who
said that these reasons are a pretext for shutting down a space for a critical
reflection of the WSIS. They have pointed to other recent acts of police
repression against media activists and independent media, including the police
raid of the Independent Media Centre during the G8 Summit in Geneva earlier
this year. $BE*(Bt is becoming normal that police is being used to repress critical
voices and independent reporting during big events, such as WSIS,“ one activist
said.
After being ejected out of the building, the Polymedia organisers were told to
move to Maison des Associations, another building within the city. However,
when they arrived at the new venue, they were again told that they cannot use
the building. This confirmed Geneva 03$BCT(B suspicion that the authorities are
delaying the operations of Polymedia Lab until they will no longer be able to
accomplish what they have set out to do.
As of yesterday, 10 December, the Polymedia Lab has been housed in a building
near the Theater L$BCV(Bsine, also in Geneva.
In a related development, one of the organisers of the Polymedia Lab was
interrogated by the security officers of the Summit when he came to the Palexpo
Complex, the venue of the Summit yesterday. He was searched heavily and was
told that he is a not allowed to being in any $BEB(Bnti-Summit” materials inside
the complex.
Some members of civil society are planning a number of activities to protest
the harassment against the Polymedia organisers.
The Polymedia Lab project is part of the WSIS? We Seize! series of events, the
only WSIS side event taking place in the Geneva city centre and completely open
to the public. WSIS? We Seize! is included in the official list of WSIS side-
events.
Reference : Heinrich Boll Foundation. http://www.worldsummit2003.org/
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