(NZ) Police keep protesters at bay at ANZCART conference

[Guest guest]

Police keep protesters at bay

28 June 2001 Waikato Times,

New Zealand

http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,846089a1601,FF.html

By TRACEY COOPER

Police outnumbered protesters almost two to one as they faced off

outside Hamilton's Novotel Tainui hotel this morning.

About 30 people protested the testing and experimenting on animals

outside the main Alma St entrance to the hotel this morning as the

Australia New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and

Teaching (ANZCCART) annual conference started.

Police ringed the building, surrounding all access points and

patrolling the riverbank.

Inspector Tony McLeod of Hamilton police refused to confirm the number

of police involved in the two-day conference.

A specialist team from Auckland had searched the hotel last night.

Mr McLeod said he did not expect any major crowd problems, and had met

protest organisers yesterday. " It is important to remember these

people are entitled to protest, and as long as they do it lawfully,

there will be no problems. "

Organisers say they fear attacks from people linked to Britain's

Animal Liberation Front, a militant anti-vivisectionist protest group.

Protesters include local people as well as members of the Coalition

Against ANZCCART and Anti-Vivisectionist Society members.

A hotel guest was arrested after throwing a bucket of water overprotesters.

<photo>ANIMAL RIGHTS: protester Danella Edwards makes her point at a protest

outside the Novotel Tainui. BRUCE MERCER/Waikato Times