Footage of violence in Quebec City repeated on television newscasts yesterday gave a skewed view of what was largely a peaceful protest, according to Carolyn Hatfield, a member of ADBWatch. Peaceful ADB
meeting predictedBy Leila Fujimori
Star-BulletinAnd that won't be the scene in Honolulu when the Asian Development Bank meeting is held in Honolulu next month, she predicts.
Television news coverage showed police in riot gear firing tear gas at crowds protesting the Summit of the Americas held in Quebec City.
"I know there have been different demonstrations every day -- religious people, environmentalists, all kinds of people," she said. "But it wasn't news until CNN puts their piece of material only showing a very small minority."
Hatfield said that, unlike the violent protesters in Quebec, opponents of ADB coming to Hawaii are from South and Southeast Asia and will speak on the effects of the bank in their countries.
However, Honolulu police and the state National Guard have been preparing for a scene similar to Quebec and the Seattle World Trade Organization protests.
But Gov. Ben Cayetano downplayed the possibility of violent protests. "The demonstrations will be peaceful and civil, unlike demonstrations we have seen in Seattle and Quebec," Cayetano said.
"The ADB is a very important event for us. ... If we do a good job, I think we will see that Hawaii becomes a center for these things," he said.
The governor was careful not to agitate any ADB opponents. "We are working very hard to make sure the right of free speech is not impinged in any way." he said. "We want to make sure that the people who want to express their concerns to ADB have an opportunity to do so."
But Liz Rees, a member of Refuse and Resist, a group against domestic repression, said the city and state's preparations work in the opposite direction. "The news focuses the blame on the protesters," Rees said.
Members of Refuse and Resist will meet at 8 p.m. tonight at the Honolulu Zoo to march through Waikiki in solidarity with the protests in Quebec and to raise awareness of the Asian Development Bank.
City & County of Honolulu
