BBC News | AMERICAS | Seattle declares civil emergency

BBC News Online: World: Americas

Wednesday, 1 December, 1999, 02:57 GMT

Seattle declares civil emergency

The mayor of Seattle has declared a civil emergency following violent clashes between police and thousands of anti-trade demonstrators ahead of the World Trade Organisation meeting.

Police in riot gear fired tear gas and red pepper spray at protesters who blocked streets and forced the cancellation of the opening ceremony of the four-day meeting.

Violence continued after nightfall, prompting Mayor Paul Schell to declare an overnight curfew for the downtown area.

The curfew period - 1900 local time (0300 GMT Wednesday) to 0730 - will cover the scheduled arrival of US President Clinton, who is set to address the WTO meeting on Wednesday.

Washington state Governor Gary Locke authorised the National Guard to be sent in to remove protesters if necessary.

As a result of the clashes, which prevented speakers reaching the meeting, WTO officials called off the opening ceremony and said they would move straight to a ministerial meeting.

We should open the process up to all those people who are there demonstrating
Bill Clinton

Similar clashes broke out in the UK capital, London, on Tuesday after demonstrations held to coincide with the opening of the WTO summit.

The protesters in Seattle, representing various interest groups, say the free trade ideals espoused by the WTO benefit big business at the cost of workers, the environment and communities.

The meeting of world trade ministers will focus on reducing international trade barriers.

President Clinton said earlier that he sympathised with some of the protesters' demands and said trade agreements should take into consideration labour and environmental concerns.

"I also strongly, strongly believe that we should open the process up to all those people who are there demonstrating on the outside. They ought to be a part of it," the president said.

protester

Some 90 minutes after the ministerial meeting in Seattle had been due to begin, only one key speaker, World Trade Organisation Director General Mike Moore, had managed to reach the venue.

Demonstrators had surrounded both the Paramount Theatre, where the opening ceremonies were to have taken place, and a nearby convention centre.

Police say they fired chemical sprays into groups of demonstrators who had chained themselves together and were lying in the streets in an attempt to prevent delegates from reaching the venues.

Earlier, the confrontation between demonstrators and police seemed to pass peacefully. Protesters chanted, sang and danced outside the theatre.

Trade talk targets

Expand tariff cuts to agriculture and services
Set agenda for other areas of trade liberalisation
Discuss labour rights
Set standards for 'fair' trading

"Whose world? Our world. Whose streets? Our streets," they chanted.

But police moved in after a couple of hours. They put on their gas masks, shouted a warning and fired both CS spray and pepper gas from hand-held canisters at close range.

Our correspondent in Seattle, Paul Reynolds, says small groups of demonstrators broke away, blocking key downtown streets. Others smashed shop windows.

Armoured cars and mounted police deployed in the area around the convention centre, but only a few violent incidents were reported.

US labour unions, which organised separated rallies, pledged their protests would be peaceful.

'Human rights'

"We are basically putting a human face on the WTO," Teamsters union president James Hoffa, said.

sit-down demo

"It has to consider human rights and worker rights along with trade."

Mr Hoffa said he believed pressure from labour unions had succeeded in getting labour rights added to the WTO meeting's agenda.

"We understand they have changed the agenda and that workers' rights will be on the agenda," he said.

Trade ministers from 135 WTO member countries are attending the four-day meeting which aims to set the scope and timetable of a new round of negotiations to reduce trade barriers worldwide.

Officials attacked

But some officials said they were outraged that the more radical protesters had been allowed to delay the proceedings.

Police were forced to stop delegates from reaching the area

Police were forced to stop delegates from reaching the area

Mohammed Asfour, the Jordanian minister of industry and trade, complained that he had been unable to get to the convention centre because the odour of gas used by police was wafting over the entrance.

"People like us who came from thousands of miles and find no organisation - it's very sad," Mr Asfour said.

A Colombian delegate was attacked by demonstrators who banged on the roof of his car.

Others, who did managed to reach the theatre, left in frustration at the delay.

Related to this story:
Riot police clash with demonstrators (30 Nov 99 | UK)
Trade talks backlash warning (30 Nov 99 | Business)
In pictures: The WTO protests (30 Nov 99 | Americas)
Technocrats versus Turtles (30 Nov 99 | Business)
Free trade flashpoints (23 Nov 99 | Battle for Free Trade)
Global hopes, global fears (28 Nov 99 | Battle for Free Trade)
Trade blocs and bullies (24 Nov 99 | Battle for Free Trade)
Free trade benefits all (23 Nov 99 | Battle for Free Trade)

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