Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2000 21:40:12 -0700 (PDT) From: Rex Wockner Subject: (WOCKNER) PROTEST BANNED AT INT'L AIDS CONFAB ----------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) 2000 Rex Wockner. All rights reserved. If you are not affiliated with Wockner News Service, do not publish, broadcast, or post online without permission. ----------------------------------------------------------- South Africa to Stifle Protest at Int'l AIDS Confab News commentary by Rex Wockner ACT UP-style protests have been a mainstay of the international conferences on AIDS since the group hijacked and destroyed the opening ceremonies in Montreal in 1989. Organizers have become so accustomed to the disruptions that by 1996 in Vancouver, ACT UP demos were listed in the official press kit and demonstrators' outbursts in the main conference hall were illuminated with spotlights. This reporter's story from the 1996 conference noted, "When ACT UP seized the stage, organizers handed them a cordless microphone and projected them onto two huge video screens." But you can forget about all that at the 2000 event in Durban, South Africa. No significant protest will be allowed. According to official documents from the Durban organizers, "South Africa has a zero to low tolerance level when it comes to protests, disruption when there is the potential of causing harm to individuals." Organizers have divided the conference site into seven "zones" and detailed what will be allowed in each. There will be "no activities or demonstration allowed" in Zone 1, which is the "Media Centre, Co-organisers Offices, Pharmaceutical Offices, Conference Offices and VIP centre/area." Zone 6, the opening ceremonies, where protesters traditionally wreak havoc, will be "strictly a zero tolerance event." In Zone 2, which is the "International Convention Centre, Durban Exhibition Centre and City Hall," "peaceful protests and demonstration" will be allowed only if "no bodily harm is caused [and] no damage to property is caused." Similar policies are in place for Zone 3 ("Commercial and NGO Exhibition area"), Zone 4 ("Public areas surrounding Conference facilities"), Zone 5 ("Conference Hotels") and Zone 7 ("Programmatic sessions"). In addition, protests that take place in Zone 4 must be "co- ordinated with the relevant local authorities" and those in Zone 5 must be "co-ordinated with the relevant hotel." It is customary at the International Conference on AIDS for demonstrators to destroy the display booths of pharmaceutical companies to protest the exorbitant prices charged for AIDS drugs. And, in the past year, South Africa has been ground-zero in the battle against drug-company profiteering. AIDS drug prices there emerged as a topic in Al Gore's presidential campaign after he helped drug companies fight proposals that would erode their monopolies. Pharmaceutical profiteering in South Africa was also a component of the World Trade Organization riots in Seattle. Dissent in Durban is slated to be more orderly. Organizers state: "'Speakers corners' will be made available throughout the Conference venue (5 in total) to allow various activists and speakers to air their views and/or opinions. All speakers corners will have a public address system and other appropriate equipment. "A 'Vukani' (wake up) room will also be made available for representatives from activist groups/communities to meet with relevant/appropriate persons or authorities to air their views, hand over memorandums, resolutions or action lists." In a nutshell, South Africa will tolerate no disruptions at the opening ceremonies and will allow only polite, choreographed protest in selected less-visible locations if activists make nicey-nice with organizers and police in advance. Apparently someone forgot to explain the AIDS-street-activist phenomenon and philosophy to Durban organizers. At minimum, the resulting chaos should make for good TV. -end- (522 words)