Subject: [Capr-discussion] Letter to Times editor re: "China seals
town after police kill protesters"
Letter to the Editor Seattle Times
Your recent article
(Seattle Times, December 10, 2005 "China seals town after police kill
protesters") regarding violent land-use conflicts rung true to me, because I
have also been the victim of armed conflict with government over land-use
issues right here in King County.
I have been politically active in
opposing ever-increasing administrative takings of land by heavy-handed
government officials. Last fall, supposedly in response to an anonymous and
non-specific complaint, two King County DDES agents confronted me on my own
property. They were argumentative and continued conducted an illegal search
of my property despite my insistence that they leave immediately.
I
stepped onto my porch with a shotgun, and they left. Several months later, I
was charged with two counts of 2nd degree assault, which carried a
maximum possible prison sentence of twenty years. I am delighted to report
that, after several months of legal effort, these charges against me were
dropped.
But as a direct result of these charges, and after I had fully
complied with the court's demands, my wife and I had four plainclothes
policemen break into our bedroom without identifying themselves. They pointed
their guns at me and forced me to kneel naked on the floor facing away from
them while they re-arrested me. If I had produced a firearm -- which would
have been a reasonable and legal response -- my wife and I would most likely
be dead today. When they realized their mistake, they quickly apologized and
left, still without identifying themselves.
So far, the King County
Sheriff's office gave only a perfunctory apology, but apparently conducted no
genuine investigation of these events.
I realize that our experience
pales in light of the recent events in China. However, the parallels revealed
by the following quotes from the Times article are shocking:
"The
number of protests. has risen in recent months as anger comes to a head over
land seizures, corruption. The clashes also have become increasingly violent.
as protesters vent their frustration in the face of indifferent or bullying
authorities. The government did not give us proper compensation for using our
land. ... Now they come and shoot us."
You can bet that this story hit
home with me.
--Charles A Strouss III 4610 244th Ave
NE Redmond, WA 98053
425-868-3065