Don’t like coal seam gas? Don’t stay at Sofitel Brisbane

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On Tuesday, Sofitel Brisbane – a part of the French-owned Accor hotel chain – threw out into the streets two mothers and three young children, amongst others, because they were involved in a peaceful protest about coal seam gas (CSG). Miriam Bauman reports.
Heavy-handed Sofitel throw children out into the streets to support CSG
Two mothers, Judi Emmett and Tracey Fuller, three young children aged 11, 8 and 6, and three adult friends were evicted from rooms at the Sofitel Brisbane on Tuesday, apparently because they had been involved in a peaceful protest against coal seam gas mining outside the hotel.

Sofitel was hosting the two-day 9th Annual Coal Seam Gas conference. More than 100 concerned citizens had rallied outside the Sofitel to protest against the extraction of coal seam gas and its long term effect on the water and food security of the nation.

When Sofitel Brisbane discovered some of the protesters were staying in the hotel, they immediately evicted them from their rooms.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that at no time did the guests openly display any literature, banners or clothing while inside the hotel, except when they were being evicted. Sofitel refused to let the reporter speak to the duty manager today and as yet had not replied to emailed questions about this eviction. In the interest of balance, the editor also made repeated requests to Sofitel for their side of the story, but so far these have also been ignored.

Tracey and the three children were approached by the rooms manager and the duty manager, Amery Burleigh, then questioned about their involvement in the protest. Later all members of the group were asked to pack up and were watched by security, police and managers until they left the building.

“I was upset, three little girls were crying and we were tossed out onto the pavement without a refund,” Tracey said. Their friend Chris Williams, however, who was also evicted, wasn’t charged for his second night.

As the evictees left the Sofitel, one of the little girls was heard to say, “What have we done wrong?”

http://www.independentaustralia.net/201 ... at-sofitel