Australia condemns LA Police for rubber bullets after quietly arming our own

The explanations of the Australian media about rubber bullets do not explain that our police have them and that they use them here. Tom is reporting.

There have been a lot of discussion about rubber bullets since the Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi While covering the brutal American police, he was shot with one in Los Angeles and military pressure on the increasing ice protests.

Police and National guard now attacked four Australian journalists are in a distinctive targeting of the media, which includes their brutality against peaceful protesters.

That’s why I’m waiting for more rubber bullets. This is a good thing. However, something missing in Australia.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) made a statement promise:

‘All journalists should be able to do their jobs safely.’

Prime minister Anthony Arbanese The images are “terrible” and in question The problem with the US would raise the “diplomatic” agenda

Given my concerns about our treatment of protests here and abroad, I am seriously trying to determine that Australia has undertaken all this.

It often seems to come for a mixture:

• A peaceful civilian protest and horror in learning all military class ammunitions against journalists involving it; And
• The fear in the press is particularly chosen for attack.

Regarding them of the ammunition: We have treated several local media explanants.

ABC’sWhat are the rubber bullets and are they used in La? ‘ Piece describes that La police use 37mm multiple foam truncheons and 40mm foam kinetic energy bullets.

. Sydney Morning Herald He also wrote explanatory In rubber bullets, they were called “less deadly” instead of “non -deadly”, because they actually killed at least 53 people.

Discussing this issue, the militarization of the police forces, the accusation of the protest and the disruption of the opposition of the authoritarian-democratic opposition. I am interested in all this, and so I accept that it is a good, interesting scope to see in the local press.

However, what is confusing to me about these rubber bullet descriptions is that our own police do not explain that they have them. And they use them here, on us.

Victoria Police (Vicpol) Fired on Anti-Lockdown protesters Gathering against Covid emergency measures in 2021. he did Again against anti -war protesters again Land forces Melbourne exhibition in September last year.

Some of these weapons after 2016 were given to Vicpol Dan Andrews State ‘Public Safety Package‘. Happened in question stand up to Crime, arms crime, terrorist threats and family violence on the gang ”, but also supply New pepper gas bullet for force Arsenal. Andrews gave them Lrad sound balls, the same foam Baton bullets owned by LA police, a crowd on the explosion, bean bag tours and more.

It has been documented that many of these “less deadly” technologies, such as rubber bullets, can kill people. Not Vicpol known Because they are conservative by using Andrews’ military technology. They used it on pepper spray Children Less than 11 years old.

I’m not dedicated to condemn the shooting of Lauren Tomasi. Should not have. I just want to admit that we have already given to our police with civilians and the same equipment they use on the press in our head discussions about the scary La police.

According Melbourne Activist Law Service2021 expression About the use of rubber bullets:

‘The increasing use of weapons as a crowded control mechanism creates a dangerous precedent and risks normalized use in the protest contexts.’

It is normalized in the US and is normalized here.

Regarding the latter of the above -mentioned concerns: Targeting free press in America. We can do most of the freedom of press – and we have to. Those who are in power to include our prime minister can say everything they want as they want. But I think his words about the freedom of the press, after about 200 murders, can not shout them from the roofs. journalists It covers the genocide in Gaza by the Israeli army.

Trump’s administration uses these “less fatal” ammunition against peaceful protesters and international journalists. However, it did not sign this technology and did not buy-when it is usually made by other governments, usually by other governments. So they spent years to get used to the use of military weapons against civilians.

What kind of future governments will use the Andrews government’s military technology supply to Vicpol well? And we should just wait to see?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwk9qlyhznk

Tom Tanuki is an IA columnist, a writer, satirical and anti-fascist activist. Youtube. You can follow it on twitter/x @tom_tanuki.

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