Today we were held down by South African police. MISTAKE!
Technically, the area in Sandton Square where we were is a "public area," not on territory deemed part of the "United Nations World Summit." This meant that in order to occupy an area of Sandton Square, we were supposed to request space from the South African police. Unfortunately, when we went to the United Nations to request space, they did not tell us that the South African police were responsible for Sandton Square, not them. FIRST MISTAKE! Instead, they referred us to the general manager of Sandton Square facilities, who in turn granted us permission to use the space (on the right-hand staircase opposite the BMW Globe installation). SECOND MISTAKE! So, with 'a permission' granted by an official manager, we prepared for our press event, scheduled to commence at 10.30am on the right-hand staircase of Sandton Square. At 9.30am, while beginning a run-through, fifty policemen in bullet-proof vests came out of nowhere and approached us. According to them, someone had called to have us removed from the Square. THIRD MISTAKE! In fact, no one had called, but rather it was South African police protocol to remove any persons occupying "public area" without permission. Permission, the chief of police informed us, had to be presented to the commission 10 days prior, and then a committee had to convene to evaluate the request. According to the police, Sandton Square was supposed to inform us to request the space with the South African police. FOURTH MISTAKE! Clearly, a miscommunication on the part of Sandton Square management and South African police, led us to find ourselves surrounded by 50 policemen, in bullet-proof vests.
Meanwhile, management of the BMW Globe Installation called us up at 9.30am, somewhat irate, demanding why we did not request permission from them! I explained that we had received permission from the Sandton Square management and that we were hosting a press event, not a demonstration of any kind. The BMW manager listened carefully to the description of our event, and realized that he and his company could actually support the goals of our press event. He said Sandton Square management should have called him up, but that the mis-communication would be settled and that we could remain in the square and carry on with our press conference. FIFTH MISTAKE! So, content with two permissions now, we continued preparing, until we were hauled away by South African police.
What ensued were 90 minutes of confusion, mis-communication, defiance on the part of the South African police, and persistence on the part of negotiators from five different countries.
The press event continued, with us surrounded by 50 police, linked arms to trap us within their circle. We had our banner, our pens, and our iron-will, to protect us from being brought down by the S.A police... and more importantly, from mis-communication. The event was a hit, Jan Pronk signed and endorsed our U.S. Youth Plan of Action, and we were released, at the miracle-hands of United Nations top negotiators.
By 11am, were were free again. But I will never forget this day... the day MIS-COMMUNICATION trapped me within the barricade of 50 bullet-proof vest-clad South African police.
Posted by amavolio at September 03, 2002 03:32 PM