www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/2041908/John-Bolton-to-be-target-of-citizen%27s-arrest-at-Hay-Festival.html
Have Your Say 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. John Bolton was the US ambassador to the UN until January 2006 DAVID HOWELLS John Bolton was the US ambassador to the UN until January 2006 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 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 630pm on international relations.
advertisement Mr Monbiot, a columnist for The Guardian newspaper, plans to detain 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 "Defeat: 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."
More on: USA > COMMENTS - 35 1 Posted by Sal Cavenough on May 28, 2008 04:01 PM Anne Johnson, please wake up. What have you smoked to come up with such a pathetic assertion. Why don't you move out of the country if you have such negative feelings? Cowardice by people like you, who hide their heads in the sand, is what contributed to the difficulties we have encountered in the fight against terror.
Report this comment 2 Posted by Ray on May 28, 2008 03:57 PM I love how people opposed to the war, and the entirely fabricated rational for going to war, are labeled as "leftists" or conspiracy theorists. It is equally interesting to realize, and it is true, that these same people who make such labels are themselves ENTIRELY without any perspective to do so. If your views on the world, politics, wars, and the evil elite who pull the strings to fulfill their agenda (which is NOT an agenda in support of humanity) are formed through your exposure to main stream media then you are COMPLETELY misguided and misinformed. If just one person reading this decides that they will dedicate even one week to research on the topic of the new world order and realize the lie of a reality we all think we're living, then the world will be that much better off. Use your energy for something positive, not berating commentators in these forums. Don't you have any input to provide on the important topic of the article?
Report this comment 3 Posted by Peter on May 28, 2008 03:57 PM Let's hope Mr Bolton allows himself to be taken into custody and our judges allow Mr Monbiot to be extradited to the US on a kidnapping charge.
Report this comment 4 Posted by John on May 28, 2008 03:57 PM Monbiot clearly knows nothing about Mr Bolton. Should he approach Mr Bolton, he will receive a swift punch on the nose and well deserved.
Report this comment 5 Posted by TZAZ on May 28, 2008 03:46 PM Just another European without the fortitude for action. He should be out on the street arresting Islamic radicals that want to kill people like him.
Report this comment 6 Posted by GT on May 28, 2008 03:46 PM Monbiot is an idiot. If he goes through with his threat, he'll only prove it. There are more intelligent ways of getting attention than this.
Report this comment 8 Posted by GT Bill on May 28, 2008 03:46 PM Obviously Anne Johnson (submitted post) and Mr Monbiot have not read the settlement that was signed by the Iraq government when they surrendered during the first Gulf War. If they had, they would realize that there claims are not only wrong, but they look like complete morons. You can argue that the invasion was not the correct policy choice but to argue that it violates International Law would be laughable except too many uneducated people believe this out right incorrect assertion.
Report this comment 9 Posted by A Da Guia on May 28, 2008 03:45 PM Mobiot = Moonbat = Loony Lefty Or as Stalin would call him, a "useful idiot". Could have only come from the "Guardependent" and in due time, he will give Fisk a run for his money.
but also requires that, in their expression, they respect both the law and the speaker." Strange that in a place talking about symbolic gestures (arts & books) the prospect of a symbolic gesture is met by such a stuffy, literalist pronouncement. Why should Mr Bolton have our respect when he does not speak the truth? In what way is a citizen's arrest, actual or symbolic or both, a breach of law? And what of the defence that when a great wrong has been done or may be prevented that that a lesser breach is justified? The Festival's position puts the speaker above the listeners, as if courtesy were to command quiescence and obedience. Asinine rulings on the law have to be resisted as well as the terrorists, like Mr Bolton, who have no respect for international law or genuine open debate.
Posted by Mike on May 28, 2008 03:45 PM typical leftwing tripe. Hey Moonbat, will you citizen arrest the Imans who are preaching hate in mosques all over the UK? For those who hate the war, why don't you stand up against those Islamic Radicals who are preaching hate and far worse things?
has there actually been an official inquiry with the international justice system on the start of and the current running of the iraq war? if so then i could see this arrest actually being legit since GB is a signatory to that court, if i remember right. but will this guy also take leaders from other countries that also aid and abet in things such as the "blood diamond trade" in central africa, or even corporations elsewhere that indirectly support the genocide in the sudan?
Posted by Frightened Inmate #2 on May 28, 2008 03:44 PM Since what Mr Monbiot is suggesting he will do is "completely unlawful in these circumstances," I believe it is Mr Bolton's duty after he is approached to turn the tables and conduct a citizen's arrest upon Mr Monbiot. Which, I believe, would be completely lawful in this circumstance.
Posted by TZAZ on May 28, 2008 03:44 PM Just another European without the fortitude for action. He should be out on the street arresting Islamic radicals that want to kill people like him.
Posted by Trip Mills on May 28, 2008 03:44 PM Mr Monbiot is just another histerical leftist who decry any attempts by free people to...
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