SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 10/06/05
SSP pledge to exercise democratic rights, accuse SNP; "Bravehearts become Fainthearts"
The Scottish Socialist Party today confirmed the pledge made by West of Scotland MSP Frances Curran to exercise the right to protest at Gleneagles. Appearing on Newsnight Scotland, Frances said that no matter what she will be exercising her right to peacefully protest against the policies of the G8 governments who are meeting at the Gleneagles hotel.
All 6 of the SSP's MSP's are committed to exercising their right to peacefully demonstrate at Gleneagles.
There will be a meeting of G8 Alternatives, the organisation which the SSP is a part of, to decide a national strategy on Tuesday 14th June with a lobby and press conference at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 16th.
Frances said today;
"The movement that demands the right to demonstrate our opposition to the policies of the G8 countries does not recognise the right of a local authority to charge a price for the right to demonstrate.
"We do not accept that democracy can be charged for and we will be exercising our right to demonstrate at Gleneagles no matter what.
"This is our country and the Scottish Parliament has already passed a vote upholding the right of peaceful demonstration at Gleneagles.
"It is now up to Perth and Kinross Council to recognise their mistake and reverse their decision not to allow the right of lawful demonstration.
"If we accept the idea that there is a price on demonstrating a precedent will have been set which will allow the crushing of democratic rights for generations to come.
"The idea that there is a danger of disorder from demonstrations is monstrous hypocrisy when on the other side of the fence will sit politicians responsible for the reduction of two countries to rubble in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Turning to the decision of Scottish National Party councillors on Perth and Kinross Council to effectively ban the democratic right of people to demonstrate at Gleneagles Frances said;
"What happened to the Bravehearts ?
"More like Fainthearts.
"You can't take our freedom. unless there's a bill for it.
"The SNP are in favour of independence unless unelected local council officials tell them they can't have it
"It's a disgrace and the SNP must hang their heads in shame that they are colluding with attempts to crush the basic democratic rights of the people of Scotland and those who come here from across the world to demonstrate their opposition to the policies of the G8 countries."
