SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit Press Release: 05/07/05
SSP Youth Organiser Arrested
The Scottish Socialist Party tonight announced that the party's Youth Organiser Donnie Nicolson (26) and two other members of the SSP, Nick Eardley (17) and John Wight (30) were arrested in Edinburgh on Wednesday 6th July.
Tonight the SSP accused the police of being solely responsible for the events in Edinburgh after falsely informing coach drivers that the demonstration in Auchterarder was cancelled in a clear attempt to prevent protestors attending.
The SSP members were arrested following impromptu demonstrations that took place in the streets of the capital after police officers boarded buses and announced that the demonstration in Auchterarder was cancelled. A Superintendent from Lothian and Borders boarded buses from Edinburgh and announced that anarchists were attacking buses going to Auchterarder with scaffolding poles. This was completely untrue.
Eye witnesses have said that two of the three arrested, Nick Eardley and John Wight, had been involved in negotiations that involved the police, Edinburgh council leader Donald Anderson and the protestors. Donnie Nicolson was targeted later by a police snatch squad.
The three will be appearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Chambers Street on Thursday 7th July from 2pm.
Colin Fox, SSP national convenor and party justice spokesperson said; "The events in Edinburgh on Wednesday were solely the responsibility of the police. "Why did they tell demonstrators and coach drivers that the demonstration in Auchterarder was cancelled ? "It was this deliberate attempt to stop people attending the demonstration that the police had agreed only days ago that resulted in the protests in Edinburgh. "If the police had not intervened in this way the 600 - 1,000 people who took to the streets of Edinburgh would have been safely on their way to Auchterarder. "There must now be an inquiry into the policing of the G8 protests across Scotland. "The deployment of large numbers of police officers with shields and wielding batons from forces that Scots would never normally come into contact with has been extremely provocative and has resulted in unnecessary violence."
