Security

Security at the meeting was competently and professionally organised. The following day, I was amazed to see reports in the media suggesting that police and security had incited the violence. I was at the meeting for five hours and I did not see a single instance of provocation.

The security people went about their job calmly and systematically. Both the police and security firms understand the volatile aspect of demonstratons and they tend to behave over-conservatively.

According to a senior member of the police force I spoke to, any provocation from the police could lead to a riot and this is why they are reluctant to arrest people who commit offences during demonstrations.

The same police told me that some demonstrators were throwing coins at police. Because the coins are spined horizontally, they cannot be seen and cause serious eye injury.