Monday, March 3, 2008

Annie Machon - Trial of Tony Blair



This clip shows part 1 of ex-MI5 Officer, Annie Machon speaking at a "Trial of Tony Blair". The trial was a fringe event at the Labour Party Spring Conference held in Manchester, UK on 12 March 2004--organised by the Stop the War Coalition.

Tony Blair was staying at the plush Midland Hotel in central Manchester less than a hundred yards from the hall where the trial took place. In between was a veritable army of police, armed officers from the Tactical Aid UNit (TAU), and the Special Branch (the UK's political police). Blair had of course been invited to the meeting to defend himself, but, curiously, declined to attend.

The case for the prosecution was presented by Chris Coverdale of Legal Action Against War (LAAW), former MI5 whistleblower David Shayler and his partner Annie Machon--also a former MI5 officer. Ghada Razuki of the Stop the War Coalition also spoke. They were followed by 40 witnesses from the floor who were given 1 minute each to speak. The meeting was presided over by a "judge" in full regalia including a superb wig. Two grinning statues of Blair also adorned the platform.

The jury--the people at the event--voted Blair gulity. The verdict was unanimous.

The "Trial of Tony Blair" was a fringe event at the Labour Party Spring Conference held in Manchester, UK on 12 March 2004--organised by the Stop the War Coaltion. Tony Blair was staying at the plush Midland Hotel less than a hundred yards from the hall where the trial took place. In between was a veritable army of police, armed officers, Tactical Aid Group and Special Branch (the UK's political police). Blair had of course been invited to the meeting to defend himself, but, curiously, declined to attend.

The case for the prosecution was presented by Chris Coverdale of Legal Action Against War (LAAW), former MI5 whistleblower David Shayler and his partner Annie Machon. Ghada Razuki of the Stop the War Coalition also spoke.

They were followed by 40 witnesses from the floor who were given 1 minute each to speak.

The meeting was presided over by a judge in full regalia including a superb wig. Two grinning statues of Blair also adorned the platform.

The jury--the people at the event--voted Blair gulity. The verdict was unanimous.

This video clip is also an excerpt from a 60 minute film about the Manchester Anti-War Movement 2001-5. It is available at:

http://www.archive.org/details/Tapest...

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