S11 by ABC 2

["Alan Bradley" <alanb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

ABC on S11 again:

Protesters head home as PM arrives

Prime Minister John Howard has arrived at the World Economic Forum in
Melbourne as the number of protesters outside the venue dwindles.

Most of the protesters have started to leave, 12 hours after arriving
outside Crown Casino.

Mr Howard arrived at the casino on a boat, surrounded by police and
security guards.

Injuries

There are conflicting reports about the number of people injured during
today's clashes between police and protesters.

Protest organisers say about 100 demonstrators were injured but ambulance
officers say they only treated about a dozen.

Five police officers were injured, with two of them taken to hospital.

Police have denied claims batons were used to quell the demonstrations.

Police say batons were used as shields when demonstrations became heated
during the arrival of Western Australia Premier Richard Court.

The police say while officers suffered eye, back and arm injuries, just one
protester was hurt.

The protesters blame police for the violence, accusing them of using
aggressive tactics.

Entry blocked

Up to 200 delegates were left stranded in their hotels as the protesters
blockaded several entrances to the casino.

Both forum organisers and demonstrators are claiming victory.

"What we've got today is a victory for everybody, not just in this state,
but in this country and around the world," S11 organiser David Glanz said.

But forum communications manager Charles McLean says despite the
disruptions, talks at the forum have been successful.

He described today's events as a clear violation of the law.

"This is not a case of civil disobedience [or] defiance of an unjust law,"
he said. "It is rather defiance of the very laws that protect free speech
and free assembly."

Mr McLean described the day as difficult.

"We are very disappointed that some 150-200 of our participants have been
stranded at their hotels and unable to join us at the Crown complex," he
said.

"That's an abridgement of their rights and it results from direct
violations of the law."

Praise

Senior police have praised members of the force for keeping the peace
despite the massive protests.

Deputy commissioner Neil O'Loughlin says police have achieved what they
wanted to and has urged protesters to allow the forum to continue
uninterrupted tomorrow, saying they have got their message across.

"I think it's been appauling that they've disrupted Melbourne as they have
and they've tried to prevent this forum from going on," he said.

He says only two people have been arrested despite some damage to property,
including cars and buildings.

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks has also praised police efforts.

He condemned the protesters for blocking access to delegates and the media,
saying they are leading on the more peaceful demonstrators.

<Picture: Police hold back a WEF protester dressed as a clown>Mr Bracks
says the forum should be allowed to continue uninterrupted.

"I condemn outright some of the protesters for the action they have taken.
It is not Australian, it is very unAustralian.

"Obviously it is a matter of enormous regret to me as the Premier of
Victoria and I think most decent Australians as well," he said.

Protest support

Inside the forum, WEF delegates from non-government organisations have
supported protesters, warning that globalisation will kill democracy.

It is one of the few anti-globalisation messages coming from inside the
forum.

Delegate Vandana Shiva from the Research Foundation for Science,Technology
and Ecology says the forum must stop demonising the protesters.

She has delivered a blunt message to the diplomatic and business leaders
there about globalisation.

"It is actually spelling the death of democracy but we will not have
peaceful protests, five years down the line, we will have absolute chaos."

But earlier sessions of the conference have been told that the force of
globalisation are irrestible and will shape policy in years to come.

Despite the massive changes underway, Goldman Sachs Asia is predicting the
world economy will continue to grow strongly, with Asian economies likely
to be the outstanding achievers.