Geroge Monbiot plans citizens arrest of John Bolton

by Mark C Fri May 30, 2008 14:41

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/5/30/alleging_war_crim...riter

George Monbiot's interview about his failed citizen's arrest.

Mark.
______________________

John Bolton–the former US ambassador to the United Nations–escaped a citizens arrest Wednesday night as he addressed an audience gathered at the Hay Festival in Wales. Security guards blocked the path of columnist and activist George Monbiot, who tried to make the arrest as Bolton left the stage. Monbiot planned the action because he says Bolton is a war criminal for his role in helping to initiate the invasion of Iraq in 2003 while he served as US under-secretary of state for arms control.

George Monbiot joins me now on the telephone from England. He is a widely-read columnist for the Guardian of London and the author of numerous books, his latest is “Bring on the Apocalypse: Collected Writing.”

George Monbiot, columnist for the Guardian of London and activist. His latest book is “Bring on the Apocalypse: Collected Writing.”

Follows at link above.

by tomeile Thu May 29, 2008 12:03

GREEN campaigner George Monbiot was manhandled out of the Hay on Wye auditorium as he tried to effect a citizen’s arrest on Bolton . A group of around 20 protesters, one dressed as former premier Tony Blair, shouted “war criminal” as the audience filed past..
John Bolton, told the audience at the literary festival that five years of "failed" negotiation with Iran over its nuclear programme had left just two options for dealing with the issue -- regime change and use of force. He said that he personally preferred regime change .

Bolton said the elements for regime change were present in Iran -- the economy was in difficulties, young Iranians could see the possibility of a different life and there were ethnic tensions within the country.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/05/...9099/

by not laughing Wed May 28, 2008 00:05

think its only people with jims mentality who laugh at serious issues like this and laugh at the few brave people who are actually trying to do something.......citizens arrest is a legal step which a concerned citizen is legally entitled to carry out.
this concerned citizen just happens to have some thoughts on the hundreds of thousands of dead innocent iraqis and realises he has a chance to bring to justice one of the many perpetrators of this hedious crime.......unlike jim i wont be laughing at whatvere the result of this action is.....because thats exactly what it is......a positive action, (something that is foreign to jims world) taken with the hope of a positive result. for me a positive result is that smug bastard, bolton, leaving with his tail between his legs after a welcome by the people.(and maybe a few cuts and bruises....yeh yeh yeh,,,,, my thoughts,,,,,,,violence never sorts anything- but lets be honest, puts a smile on the old face)
although no doubt he would find refuge in jims house where they could laugh it up some more, maybe their sides would start hurting with laughter as they think of the protests that will happen if this bastard bolton gets his way and the good old US of A start their war on iran......more positive direct actions like this are the way forward...bearing in mind this a completely legal manoeuvere by monbiot.....so we shall see the completely legal, by the book reaction by all the plods.......

by Jim Tue May 27, 2008 09:49

If he tries to arrest Bolton, bodyguards will simply pick him up and dump him in a paddy wagon.
The international press will flash pictures of the "loon" being restrained around the world and the masses this protest is directed at will simply groan in irritation over their newspaper and morning coffee.
Antics like this undermine your cause and subject people like you to ridicule.
When people see leftists lying down in front of mechanical diggers only to be dragged away they laugh in contempt.
The same goes for pointless protests like this.

by Miriam Mon May 26, 2008 18:08

I dont suppose Monbiot imagines it will be a surprise for Bolton either given publication of his intentions in national news media. If it shames or scares Bolton into non-attendance at Hay then that's a something.

by No Mon May 26, 2008 17:36

Bolton is probably past the "surprised" stage by now. In fact he has chickened out of other meetings. It is possible he may chicken out of this one too.

'John Bolton 'Too Busy' To Speak In Bristol'
http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/688352

http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/688210
http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/688347