Australian PM Placed Under House Arrest By Greenpeace

Protesters place PM under 'house arrest'
March 19, 2003

ANTI-WAR protesters blocked the gates of the prime minister's official residence in Canberra today, forcing John Howard to leave on foot by a back entrance.

Up to 15 Greenpeace activists moved in at 6am (AEDT), chaining themselves to the gates of The Lodge and to four-wheel drive vehicles parked to block the entrances of the residence.

Mr Howard came face to face with the protesters as he left for his early morning walk and challenged them when he returned, telling one:"I'm entitled to my opinion, you're entitled to yours."

Later the protest prevented Mr Howard leaving for nearby Parliament House by car, forcing him instead to use a pedestrian gate to reach a waiting car outside.

Greenpeace members later agreed with police to end their protest at about 8.30am (AEDT) and said they would not be arrested.

Wearing blue UN berets, 10 protesters used bicycle locks to chain themselves underneath four-wheel drives mocked up to look like UN vehicles, and to security gates.

Greenpeace spokesman Shane Rattenbury said the keys to the locks had been taken away from the site.

The protesters said they faced no opposition as they began their protest.

However soon afterwards at least 20 police as well as Lodge security guards and plain clothes security guarded the compound, situated about 500 metres from Parliament House.

The peak-hour protest caused major traffic congestion on Adelaide Avenue, one of Canberra's major arterial roads.

The protest action follows the Howard government's decision yesterday to commit Australian troops to any attack on Iraq.

The protesters carried large banners including the slogans "Howard's war - a bloody outrage" and "John Howard - war criminal".

Mr Rattenbury said the protesters were symbolically placing Mr Howard under house arrest and intended to maintain the action for some hours.

"The prime minister said yesterday not to have an argument with the Australian troops and to bring the beef to him," Mr Rattenbury said.

"That's what we have done here, we've brought it here to the PM's house to deliver the message that Australians don't want this war in Iraq.

"It's not our war. It's immoral, illegal, and Australians shouldn't be there."

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