ANOTHER site in central London has been taken over by the expanding Occupy movement.
Said a post on UK Indymedia: "The Occupy London campaigners – part of the global movement for social
and economic justice and real democracy – stated that they intend to
occupy the building – their fifth occupation – until such time as the
City of London Corporation publishes full details of its City Cash
Accounts. This is a request that Occupy London has consistently asked
off the Corporation, so that it can become a more transparent public
body like every other public body in the country.
"A
press conference will be held at 11am today at the building which is on
the corner of Wood Street and Fore Street (London EC2Y 5BA), with the
building opening to the public at 11am Monday 23 January for a lecture
focusing on the City’s secret finances and its lobbying activities.
Roman House is a non residential building for Occupy London. The City of
London Police have visited the building and have agreed that it is a
civil matter.
"Stuart Fraser, outgoing policy chief of the City
of London Corporation, revealed on 17 November on an edition of The
Report on BBC Radio regarding the Occupy London Stock Exchange
occupation by St Paul’s that “now, under transparency, we’ve got to
think about it [releasing details of the City Cash] very seriously. Let
me put it this way, it is under discussion.”
"Occupy London is still waiting.
"Occupy
London supporter Bryn Philips commented: 'The Corporation has
undermined our democracy through the power of its lobbyists and must
submit to public scrutiny. If the City agrees to publish its City Cash
Accounts, future and historic, we will leave the building immediately.
If does not, we will take appropriate action until such time as it
does'
"Calls for greater transparency from the Corporation have
grown since OccupyLSX by St Paul’s began its occupation on 15 October,
with support given from groups such as Reclaim the City who campaign for
the democratisation of the City.
"Most recently, there was a
significant step towards transparency – thought not through the choice
of the Corporation – when Fr William Taylor, former Common Councillor
for the City of London Corporation from 2001 to 2003 and again from 2005
to 2008, who had access to the City’s private ‘City’s Cash’ accounts
published some of the accounts via his blog ‘Hackney preacher’. [4] Fr
Taylor has also published a new blog focusing on one of the noteworthy
funds wrapped up in the City’s Cash account – the Gresham Estate. [5]
"Roman
House becomes Occupy London’s newest occupation, while its first
occupation – OccupyLSX bySt Paul’s Cathedral – will this Monday
celebrate its 100th day. Other occupations includeFinsbury Squarewhich
is currently in the process of transforming into an eco-village [6], the
Bank of Ideas which was previously the abandoned multimillion pound
offices of Swiss investment bank UBS and Occupy Justice, the former Old
Street Magistrate’s Court where Occupy London has been putting the one
per cent on trial. "