Posted on: Friday, April 13, 2001
Up to 5,000 expected to protest ADB meeting
By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
About 2,000 to 5,000 demonstrators are expected to take part in a protest march and demonstration during the Asian Development Bank conference here next month, most likely closing some streets in Waikiki.
ADB Watch, an umbrella group representing about two dozen organizations scheduled to demonstrate on various human rights, economic and environmental positions during the conference, has applied for a permit with the city to hold a demonstration and march May 9.
Leaders from 60 nations are scheduled to gather May 7-11 at the Hawai'i Convention Center. Critics are scheduled to demonstrate against the bank's policies, saying they exploit the poor and harm the environment.
Assistant Honolulu Police Chief Boisse Correa yesterday said the march will probably mean street closures for a couple hours to accommodate the demonstrators, but said final traffic details have yet to be determined.
Joshua Cooper, co-coordinator of ADB Watch which estimated 2,000 to 5,000 protesters will participate in the march, said planned activities for the week of the conference will be non-violent and will not disrupt area traffic or businesses.
The march May 9 will begin at Magic Island and near the former main police station on Young Street, with protesters converging at the Hawai'i Convention Center.
The demonstrators will end the day with a rally and speeches at Kapi'olani Park. ADB Watch has also applied for park permits to use portions of Ala Moana and Kapi'olani parks.
At a news conference, Correa said police are not sure how many demonstrators will show up during the week of the ADB conference. They don't expect the same problems or the number of demonstrators as during the 1999 World Trade Organization riots in Seattle, which ranged from 30,000 to 40,000 protesters.
"We know that the majority of demonstrators are trying to get their message across in a legal, non-violent way, while in Seattle, it was a small group that caused havoc," Correa said. "I think Hawai'i is different in which our culture is more tolerant in allowing people to express themselves. I think we (police) are also better prepared."
Correa said police are more concerned about a reportedly disruptive Mainland-based protest group that may travel to the Honolulu conference. Correa refused to disclose the organization's name.
"We saw the same group in Seattle, go to demonstrate (at the Republican National Convention) in Philadelphia, then Los Angeles (for the Democratic Convention)," Correa said. "It would be a misconception that these people don't have money to get here. One of their key players in the demonstrations when they arrested him in Philadelphia had $100,000 cash on him."
Cooper, however, said he is skeptical whether this organization is actually coming to Hawai'i.
"I think the city is spending money to deal with a ghost group," Cooper said. "We haven't heard anything about it. I would ask them to name the group. If we know who this group is, we could help set up a meeting between the two sides."
Correa declined to talk specifically about police tactics or equipment to deal with crowd-control situations.
"We won't have any vehicles like in Seattle that shot pepper spray; we don't have or need it here in Honolulu," he said. "We're looking more at helmets and shields and things of that nature."
"Seattle was a lesson for all of us... the city of Philadelphia did something we want to do, which is keep it low-key," Correa said. "We want to react to a situation, but not overreact."
