Bollards have been erected around an international military exhibition that is expected to attracted tens of thousands of anti-war protesters planning to blockade the event.
Workers could be seen installing the bollards around the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday, ahead of the event next week.
A Land Forces expo will be held at the centre from September 11 to 13 that will bring together more than 800 defence firms and military organisations from around the globe.
It provides an opportunity for the defence industry and government to do business, but protesters say it is a “massive weapons sale” were government officials and business leaders come together to do “deals that end in massacres.”
Disrupt Land Forces are planning to protest outside the centre from Sunday hoping tens of thousands of people will join the rally to circle around the convention centre.
Last month, Police Minister Anthony Carbines issued a warning to activists saying anyone who resorted to violence would be met with “the full force of the law”.
Mr Carbines said protesters who went into Melbourne’s CBD to cause trouble, disrupt, upset or scare people during the expo would be put “on notice”.
“If you’re not going to abide by the law, if you’re not going to protest peacefully, if you’re not going to show respect and decency, then you’ll be met with the full force of the law,” he said.
“Every resource that we can bring to bear will come down on top of you. Make no mistake about that.”
The Herald Sun reported that Victoria Police would divert 1800 officers to the protest to deter anyone from threatening anarchy in the city.
The Disrupt Land Forces website calls the military event a “one stop genocide shop” where billions of dollars exchange hands.
“Harms dealers will spruik their latest killing tech, and governments will spend the people’s money on weapons to use against us,” the website stated.
“The biggest weapons makers in the world will all be there, plus military bosses, plus defence ministry personnel, plus hundreds of smaller suppliers trying to get a piece of the genocide pie.
“All will come together under one roof, shaking hands, exchanging flesh for cash, scoffing hors d’ouvres and designing terror for three days.”
The group have said 50 community groups have joined their cause and invited anti-militarist and pro-planet people to join their week-long cause.
Source: www.news.com.au
