Yesterday, 5th September saw 4 large transporters and Trevor Heads small vehicle arrive at Ramsgate port to sail on the Joline. This time the people did an impromptu sit down at the port, which I must point out interferes with no one other than the exporters as the port is closed to all other users. We have only this means of peaceful protest as people stood there with banners etc informs no one but the exporters and the police who I have been told are on the side of the exporters anyway. The lorries left the port went out to the top roundabout and then returned. Some more police had arrived at this point but instead of clearing the people to the sides stood in front of them, sullenly. When the lorries again arrived the people sat down once again, three lorries again left the scene and then a police officer, all dressed in black with no yellow tabard and blond hair ran from the side of the police van, which was parked at the side of me where I stand on the triangle at the entrance to the coast road, ran in front of the fourth lorry, driven by Onderwater himself, pointed at him and ordered him to drive to the right. I couldnt understand this as this was towards to bollards that edge the car park area. Then he shouted through this way and with his arm signalling told the driver to drive at the sat down people on the car park end of the sit down. Onderwater obliged and the people were scrambling to get out of the way. How someone was not killed I do not know. More luck than management. I was astounded that the police were willing to use the lorry as a weapon against us and were willing to risk our lives when they have always said they are there to ensure we can have our peaceful protest. The sit down was peaceful and the police should have cleared the road before allowing the lorries to proceed. This then caused the trouble that followed. People surrounded the cab of this lorry. I saw someone attempt to open the cab door, left hand side at the drivers side. He pulled it shut then thrust it open himself and kicked out with his booted leg hitting one of our female protesters in the face. He then slammed the door and drove towards the gates of the port.Trevor Heads lorry followed him. People tried to block the gates, the security guards and police got it partially open and he and T Heads lorry drove through. The people tried to get in and one got his foot caught under the gate. He was screaming but the guards and police continued to push . He fell backwards his foot still caught under the gate. He had to go to QEQM and has tissue damage to his arm, hand and leg and a twisted ankle. They said it was lucky it was not broken. Onderwater I understand was questioned in the port under caution but allowed to continue with his journey unmolested whereas one of our supporters who is disabled and has a pulmonary disease which means he can stop breathing when under stress, was arrested because he pushed one of the guards who was shutting the gate over the mans foot. He was accused of common assault, they would not let anyone accompany him to the police station and was kept a total of 11 and a half hours in the station. He was persuaded to have the duty solicitor an ex police officer with a son in the met even though we had an independent solicitor ready to go into the station to act for him, talk about all boys together. This duty solicitor persuaded him to accept a caution but we are not sure he understood just what a caution is. The girl who was kicked in the face also went to QEQM hospital and she has tissue damage to her face. She has told the police she wants to press charges and luckily her main witness is the police liason officer. When she gave her statement they asked her if she had witnesses and when she said the liason officer the police taking her statement were obviously upset by this and their faces dropped when he confirmed her side of the story. The RSPCA that were in the port told us the animals were as well as they can be under the conditions. One had a nasal discharge but Animal Healths answer to this was to take a photograph. Another animal had its head caught in a separation gate. It was freed and Animal Health stated it was fine. We also have a photograph of an animal that looks to have a head wound so we are querying that too. Keep picking at the scab until we make it bleed. They will be so fed up of us they wont know what to do. Eustice has said that these sit downs are making the animals suffer. What planet is he on??? Our efforts delay them for about 15 minutes compared with the journey they have had and the journey they have to come. I see nothing of him ridiculing the length of the sailing last Friday. Do you think the sheep object to us because I dont. If they could shout they would be shouting with us for the help they need. .There is no level playing field, last week the Joline sailed into a force 8 gale that had been well forecast and took 8 hours 40 minutes to reach Calais. She is only licensed to sail in force 6 but of course nothing happened. No one cares, they can break the rules as many times as they like and they know it. They think the Kent police is their private escort service. Am I angry? you bet I am, do we have evidence? You bet we do!!!!!
Posted on: Sun, 07 Sep 2014 09:35:16 +0000
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