S11 by SBS

["Alan Bradley" <alanb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

S11, according to SBS.

THOUSANDS PROTEST OUTSIDE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

Thousands of people opposed to economic globalisation have taken to the
streets of Melbourne to protest outside a meeting of some of the world`s
top corporate bosses. As delegates gathered for the World Economic Forum,
police and demonstrators clashed violently, with injuries on both sides.
Two people were arrested. Inside, governments and big business were told
they`d failed to persuade people of the advantages of globalisation.

PROTESTERS SHOUT: Nothing gets through, shut the forum down!

They represented a variety of causes but united to blockade Melbourne`s
Crown Casino complex - the venue for the World Economic Forum.

PROTESTERS: The whole world`s watching! The whole world`s watching!

PROTESTERS: Stop mandatory sentencing! Stop right now!

The protesters` blockade kept about 200 of the delegates from entering the
forum. The Premier of WA, Richard Court, was surrounded in his car for
almost an hour.

MAN SHOUTS: This is how you kept us for 200 years!

After a series of warnings, Victorian police moved to release the embattled
premier.

POLICE SHOUT: Move! Move! Move!

Ambulance officers found themselves caught up in the protest.

PAUL HOLMAN, VICTORIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE: One where an ambulance, was...
...basically, people got into the ambulance, stole the keys and roughed up
the paramedics, which is appalling behaviour.

Police reported two arrests. Victoria`s Opposition Leader, Denis Napthine,
who was forced to scramble over security fence, said the State police could
have done more. The Premier, however, praised the force.

STEVE BRACKS, VICTORIAN PREMIER: I want to commend the police. I think
they`ve done a fantastic and sterling job in showing restraint.

PETER COSTIGAN, LORD MAYOR OF MELBOURNE: And I`m saddened that there were a
small group of Melburnians who are against free speech. And I think it`s
appalling that 200 or 300 of the delegates were not able to get in here
this morning.

The blockade succeeded in keeping a third of the delegates out of the forum
but inside, it was business as usual.

VOX POP DELEGATE, WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM: I want to start by saying...I want
to express my appreciation to all the policemen out there, protecting us
from the mob.

The WEF is a discussion group involving big corporations and governments.
Speakers acknowledged opposition to globalisation but say its advance is
irresistible.

KENNETH COURTIS, GOLDMAN SACHS: It can be slowed, it can be guided in
certain directions but the power of those movements in demographics, the
power of technological change, the power of globalisation, I think are just
so strong that they will shape policy rather than the other way around.

DAVID GLANZ, S11 ALLIANCE: We have delivered exactly what we have promised.
The beat-ups about violence and terrorism and so on have been shown to be
completely false. And what we have scored today is a fantastic victory for
everybody.

Tonight, the PM addresses the World Economic Forum. The protesters`
umbrella group S11 say they`ll keep up the demonstrations for the next two
days of meetings.