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- APR-25-01 01:55PM EDT
- From
Quebec Legal: 30 activists still in jail, total arrests reported at 463. Intelligence
personnel with american accents reportedly questioned jailed activists during the night.
- The United Nations
expressed its continued concern
at "the extensive occurrence of detention, long-term detention, extra judicial killings, persecution and harassment, threats, acts of violence, and discrimination directed
against persons who exercised the right to freedom of opinion and expression; called for further progress towards the release of persons detained for exercising the right; and expressed its concern at the number of cases which were facilitated and aggravated by such factors as abuses of states of emergency
, exercise of powers specific to states of emergency without formal declaration and too vague a definition of offenses against State security" during the 57th session of the Commission on Human Rights, April 23rd 2001.
Amnesty International condemns the excessive use of force and violation of human rights in Quebec City during the Summit meetings.
- 2:27pm EST April 23. Activist and lawyers held a press conference in front of Prison d`Orsainville at 1:00pm today, as hundreds remain incarcerated. Human rights abuses inside the prison have been reported, including:
denial of access to bathrooms, 4 people crammed into single occupancy cells, indiscriminate strip searches, and constant use of intimidation tactics. 50 demonstrators maintain solidarity outside the jail.
- 12:01am EST April 23 At least 50 protestors continue to hold the vigil outside the Quebec City prison, where 200-350 people remain in custody.
No arrests yet of those demonstrating outside the prison.
- 9:00pm A22 -
OQP (Operation Printemps Quebec)
has received a report from outside the Orsain Vaille prison that the police are preparing to arrest those demonstrating outside the prison. There are approximately 70 demonstrators outside the prison demanding the release of imprisoned demonstrators.
Local residents and police demand more democracy and condemn the excessive use of force this weekend.
- Police have announced that they will arrest anybody caught in the streets with a gas mask. Witnesses state that many police have covered their identification tags and badges.
Police ignore the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
and the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- 450 confirmed arrests, an estimated 250 of which were done between the hours of 6pm and 3 am
- A radio journalist, known as "Sebastain" is now missing from the Center for Media Alternatives in Quebec
(CMAQ)
who was on the scene reporting live to alternative media. The journalist was on cell phone giving a report when he started screaming to be let go. His phone dropped to the ground and communication was lost.
- Tonight a
corporate media
blackout is in effect and are not reporting the events in the street. Our Prime Minister is unaware of what workers, unions, and protesters are experiencing right now in the streets. CNN, CTV, CBC all play a half dozen various video clips which do not provide live accurate reporting. The police are only being held accountable by the independent media and eye witness accounts. Protesters report that they have not seen anyone from the authorized media out on the street tonight.
Journalists and videographers from the nonprofit or independent media are being arrested
. Members of the
corporate media who leave authorized areas are being arrested. Riot police are shooting rubber bullets at anyone attempting to get into CMAQ.
- Police seem to be losing control of the situation, they are under orders to clear the streets.
They have escalated the violence. There is indiscriminate and excessive use of stun-guns, rubber bullets
and CS gas. Martial law has been enacted but has not been formally announced. Citizens in Quebec City are being arbitrarily arrested if walking calmly through the streets.
- Lawyers are not being permitted to talk with their clients. Legal observers are attempting to meet with police to discuss this direct violation of Canadian law.
Conditions in the jails, according to frequent
reports, are "deplorable." Men are being washed naked and hosed down with cold water in a courtyard in groups. They are being deprived of food, water or access to the bathroom. They were held in buses for as long as seven hours , breathing the residue of tear gas on their clothing the entire time, before being moved to the prison.
The Quebec Legal Team
has confirmed reports that protestors are being detained on buses at the prison and not being given water, food or access to bathrooms or a telephone call. According to reports, tear gas canisters were going off near the buses as those arrested were boarding. The legal team says this is a clear infringement of civil rights because those arrested are entitled to three meals a day and personal dignity.
- Riot police are now using concussion grenades against the protesters. The police have shut down the Quebec Medical team's space and wounded protestors are now being attended at the Independent Media Center (CAM). People
were forced out of the medical center at gunpoint earlier this evening. There are a few safe havens where injuries can be treated. Police raided an alley in front of the medical center where people were being treated.
The police drew their guns on medics and patients and forced them out onto the streets, the medic said. Medics have been targeted by police
throughout the protests. The medic said police have been shooting tear gas and concussion grenades at medics as they try to help people.
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