Protests in Copenhagen

So I see from discussions on the www (notably friends on facebook) that many are disturbed by the mass arrests of around 1000 people made by police on saturday in CPH (perhaps because of the strong images like this one on top circulating in the media of long "arrest-trains" of people sitting on the street).

Many protesters were quite upset they were not given food or water or allowed to go to the bathroom after 2 hours sitting on the street,  likening the ordeal to Guantanamo bay. (!!!) They were then put on buses to go to "detention camps"...all but 13 were released, at the latest, 12 hours later.  There were at least 30.000 that demonstrated peacefully on the streets of Copenhagen during the day in a organised march... a friend participating said the police had been exemplary towards protesters

(Copyright alex rocha)

Many people have a point and should be able to manifest their viewpoint - I just also think that police has to maintain law & order and with such a big event as the climate conference there are probably some errors made. And (some) protestors do not help themselves by attacking police forces, I thought that under the circumstances they were pretty cool, and not as violent as you might have expected.

When you hear of "training camps" to learn to combat police that took place weeks before the protests, some by professional activists you can also question if all arrested were innocent... and if not -  For my part, if I was demonstrating I would try to keep away from those who clearly intend to provoke law inforcement, because at some point police will have to react- or they will be criticised for non-action.

Its a tough call, and a fine line, where do pre-emptive arrests fit in for example? It is much more problematic to raid a bunk where activists are getting ready for protests days before the actual protests than to arrests a few "innocent bystanders" along with those that have a clear will for vandalism.

Then there are those that wear bear costumes... cuties!!