Posted on 05/28/2008 5:42:56 AM PDT by Abathar
John Bolton, the former US ambassador to the United Nations, faces a citizen's arrest when he addresses an audience at the Hay Festival in Wales this evening.
George Monbiot, the journalist and activist, is planning the action because he believes Mr Bolton is a "war criminal".
He said he was surprised that a "war criminal" such as Mr Bolton would be allowed to "swim through the politest of polite soirees – which is of course Hay."
Mr Bolton, who was the American ambassador to the UN from August 2005 to January 2006, is due to talk at the Hay-on-Wye literary festival at 6.30pm on international relations.
Mr Monbiot, a columnist for The Guardian, plans to arrest him as he steps off stage at the end of his talk. He said he was prepared to jump on stage and perform the citizen's arrest there if necessary.
He claimed Mr Bolton was "instrumental in preparing and initiating the Iraq war by disseminating false claims through the State Department" while he was under-secretary of state for arms control.
Mr Monbiot, who took part in a debate at Hay on Saturday entitled 'Iraq: Why They Lost Iraq', has been a fierce critic of the decision to launch the 2003 invasion.
He said he had formally notified police of his intention of performing a citizen's arrest.
Mr Monbiot said: "This is the one opportunity we have, because he is mingling with the public, which doesn't happen very often.
He added: "I can't think of another case where someone who has been instrumental in planning the war has been exposed to the public, so I'm taking the opportunity.
"John Bolton was pushing for the Iraq war long before he became part of the administration."
Explaining his motivation for carrying out what will be a purely symbolic gesture, Mr Monbiot said: "Many people accept that the launching of the Iraq war was an international crime, but no one has yet been prepared to act on it by arresting one of the perpetrators."
Peter Florence, director of the Hay Festival, said Mr Monbiot’s attempt at a citizen’s arrest would be “completely unlawful”.
He said: “The Hay Festival has sought the advice of both police and lawyers, and has been unequivocally assured that a citizen’s arrest, or an attempt to instigate a citizen’s arrest, would be completely unlawful in these circumstances.”
“The Hay Festival remains committed to providing a platform for speakers from a diverse range of political and social backgrounds.
“However much we might take issue with a speaker’s beliefs or opinions, we remain steadfast in our intention to provide them with a safe and free environment in which their views might be discussed with others. The Hay Festival encourages visitors to voice their opinions, but also requires that, in their expression, they respect both the law and the speaker.”
I’m a little confused on the legal concept of citizen’s arrest. Someone once explained to me that for a citizen to make a citizen’s arrest they must have proof that the individual being arrested actually committed the crime. For the police to make an arrest all that is need is reasonable belief that the person arrested has committed the crime. If a citizen makes a citizen’s arrest without being able to prove the person arrested committed the crime then the person making the citizen’s arrest can be charged with assault and/or kidnapping. Anyone know if that is true?
Yes it is, and youu are allowed to resist a citizens arrest also, no different than being assaulted you have every right to self defense.
Monbiot is a conceited sniveling little leftist who much admires himself and his grandstanding theatrics. The organizers of this event should have the common sense to refuse him admittance.
I think it comes out in November. If memory serves, it will include the original 3-parter, as well as the feature version.
It’s one of my all-time favorite Disney productions, along with The Sword in the Stone, which is due out any day in a Platinum Edition (’bout time). If they want to complete my Disney favorites triumvirate, they’ll announce the DVD release of the original Incredible Journey; the one narrated by Rex Allen and featuring a bull terrier, not the one where the animals are voice-over by Michael J. Fox and company.
The island of wussies
“They’d be better served giving themselves a citizens dental appointment.’
Well they do but its in 2010 so they are just killing time until it rolls around.
Thank you very much for the info.
Thanks for the pic. Confirms what we all knew: 100% purebred sanctimonious twerp
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