Police arrest 17 at latest climate protest in Copenhagen - Summary

Mon, 14 Dec 2009

Copenhagen - Police made 17 arrests Monday when thousands of people protested to highlight the plight of climate refugees during the United Nations climate change talks in Copenhagen. An estimated 3,000 people joined the protest near the Danish Defense Ministry, the No Borders network said, adding it was critical of the role the military has in guarding national borders.

A few scuffles took place near parliament square before protesters continued toward the so-called free city Christiania area, a former army base, which since the 1970s has been a haven for the alternative movement.

Two of the 17 detainees had violated a ban against wearing masks.

A district court meanwhile remanded two Germans and an Australian in custody on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, disrupting the public order and vandalism at earlier protests.

Over 1,200 people were apprehended over the weekend in connection with protests attended by tens of thousands of people.

Of those apprehended, German nationals composed the largest single group, with over 300 people, followed by Danish and Swedish nationals.

Justice Minister Brian Mikkelsen over the weekend defended police tactics but several hundred complaints were being compiled by law students offering voluntary services.

Complaints included that people were forced to sit directly on wet streets for several hours, pending transport to holding cells.

Denmark introduced special legislation prior to the UN conference allowing police to hold suspects without charge for up to 12 hours.

Four German citizens have also been expelled from the country, according to police and local media.

Overnight, nine cars were torched, including service vehicles used by Danish energy group Dong, which has been criticized for operating coal-fired plants.

Activists said they planned to hold another major protest targeting the Bella Center, the conference venue, on Wednesday.

The United Nations' chief climate negotiator, Yvo de Boer, said the demonstrations held alongside the conference so far posed "a huge encouragement to (world) leaders to come to Copenhagen to act, rather than talk."