By Thiloththama Jayasinghe, Jadetimes Staff
T. Jayasinghe is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Political News
In Melbourne, a protest against war has awakened very heated controversy in its aftermath. It ensues on violent clashes between protesters and police at the anti-war protest of the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition that turned into battles where demonstrators reportedly attacked officers with rocks, manure, and acid-filled bottles. The police responded with flashbang grenades and irritant sprays to dispel the crowd.
While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the violence and said he believed in peaceful protest, activists counter-accused police of using excessive force. Most protesters, carrying Palestinian flags, demonstrated against the expo's showcasing of military hardware, claiming some of those weapons had been used by Israeli forces in Gaza.
The violent escalation resulted in about two dozen police officers injured, and arrest was taken against 39 protestors. Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton slammed the violent demeanor of the demonstrators by calling them hypocritical because they were advocating for peace through violence. Meanwhile, protest organizers expressed outrage at what many felt was an over-the-top police response to what was, ironically enough, a protest about money being spent on security at an event.
Demonstrators say the weapons on display at the Land Forces expo, expected to draw more than 1,000 companies from around the world, promote global conflict. The Victorian government has defended the right of industry professionals to hold such events in peace.
