Australian Gold Coast Council has banned Amnesty International and other groups from setting up protests in the city parks - so as not to upset tourists it seems, sources from goldcoast.com.au on May 20.

Groups such as Falun Gong, Amnesty and the Vegan Society will be banned from gathering from Coolangatta to Surfers Paradise.

Influential marketing groups along the coastal strip have been pushing for the eradication of protest meetings, which according to a council report are 'too confronting' for Gold Coasters.

The council report singles out Amnesty International and Falun Gong as organisations who should not be allowed to set-up in parks, including Kurrawa, Justins Park at Burleigh, Surfers Paradise Esplanade and Queen Elizabeth Park at Coolangatta.

City Governance boss Cr Eddy Sarroff said he supported the move to block protesters.

He did not think it was a breach of Gold Coasters' democratic rights.

Cr Sarroff said he had no issue with council using the parks for promotional use to launch programs and other propaganda. "I think that if it is for the benefit of the city's image, we should be able to use the parks still. I don't think it's hypocritical."

The report also says that the Gold Coast should have an area similar to King George Square in Brisbane and the parliamentary lawns at Parliament House.

"Some demonstrations can be quite graphic and stir the emotions of both supporters and non supporters," it said.

(Facts.org.cn, May 20, 2008)