One million names on US government "terrorist" watch list

by Jerry White from World Socialist Web Site 17 July 2008 One million people including large numbers of American citizens are on the US government's so-called terrorist watch list, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which held a Washington, D.C. press conference earlier this week to mark the ominous milestone.

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One million names on US government "terrorist" watch list

by Jerry White from World Socialist Web Site 17 July 2008 One million people including large numbers of American citizens are on the US government's so-called terrorist watch list, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which held a Washington, D.C. press conference earlier this week to mark the ominous milestone.

Since February of this year the ACLU has maintained an online "watch list counter" to track the size of the government's watch list. A September 2007 report by the inspector general of the Justice Department reported that the list contained 700,000 names and was growing by 20,000 per month. As of this writing, the counter has passed the 1,001,500 mark.

The Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) was set up in December 2003 through a Homeland Security directive signed by President George W. Bush, who ordered the agency to consolidate more than a dozen separate terrorist watch lists maintained by different federal agencies.

The resulting Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) has been used to detain thousands of people during airport security checks or bar them from flying. Foreign nationals have been held up at US border crossings and prevented from obtaining visas based on the list. Local law enforcement agencies have also accessed the database during routine traffic stops.

Thousands of innocent people have been caught up in the government's arbitrary dragnet and "no-fly" lists; many held for hours in interrogation rooms, threatened and denied due process. Those on the list have no right to access and challenge the data in which the list is based.

"Members of Congress, nuns, war heroes and other 'suspicious characters,' with names like Robert Johnson and Gary Smith, have become trapped in the Kafkaesque clutches of this list, with little hope of escape," said Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office.

The ACLU said those on the list included South African leader Nelson Mandela; Evo Morales, president of Bolivia; and US Senator Edward Kennedy, Democrat from Massachusetts.

Appearing at the press conference was Akif Rahman, a computer consulting company founder from suburban Chicago, who was detained and questioned for more than two hours by US customs officials on four separate occasions when crossing the Canadian border. On one occasion, he was held for 5 ½ hours, shackled to a chair, and physically searched. He was also separated from his wife and children who were forced to wait in a small dirty public area without food or telephones. A US citizen born in Springfield Illinois, Rahman is being represented by the ACLU of Illinois in a lawsuit over this treatment.

A flight from London carrying Yusuf Islam, the pop star formerly known as Cat Stevens, was diverted and forced to land in Maine once the government realized he was aboard. The singer was barred from entering the United States.

Attorney David C. Nelson is one of many men named David Nelson around the US who has been caught up on the list, including a former star of the television show "Ozzie and Harriet."

The ACLU reported that the list even contained Saddam Hussein's name, although he was imprisoned in Baghdad and in US custody at the time. It also contained the names of several 9/11 hijackers long after they were killed.

Barry Steinhardt, director of the ACLU's Technology and Liberty Program, said, "America's new million record watch list is a perfect symbol for what's wrong with this administration's approach to security: it's unfair, out-of-control, a waste of resources, treats the rights of the innocent as an afterthought, and is a very real impediment in the lives of millions of travelers in this country. It must be fixed without delay.

"Putting a million names on a watch list is a guarantee that the list will do more harm than good by interfering with the travel of innocent people and wasting huge amounts of our limited security resources on bureaucratic wheel-spinning," said Steinhardt. "I doubt this thing would even be effective at catching a real terrorist."

In the name of the "war on terror", the Bush Administration has gone a long way in setting up the structure of a police state. The state surveillance being conducted against more than one million people is not aimed at protecting the American people from terror attacks. It will ultimately be used to track political opponents, particularly as popular opposition grows to the worsening social conditions confronting tens of millions of working people, to the attacks on democratic rights, and the war

The ACLU concluded its press conference by expressing hope that the "next president" would move quickly to fix the excesses carried out by the Bush administration. Any confidence that a Barack Obama White House will dismantle the repressive measures put in place by Bush is an illusion.

Obama has fully embraced the war on terror both in regards to foreign and domestic policy. He signaled his support for the attack on democratic rights through his Senate vote last week backing the Bush administration's illegal program of widespread electronic surveillance and wiretapping.

Cops, SIS create terror panic over FOUR GUNS

Contrary to panicky rumour, the police found no AK-47s, no molotov cocktails and no napalm bombs at Ruatoki. All they found were four rifles, a few rounds of ammunition and a lot of tough talk. Your average National or ACT member living in a rural area probably has more than that in their shed. It's shown once again that the Terror Raids were nothing to do with fighting an actual threat to life, limb or property. This is all about criminalising and anathematising Maori sovereignty, ecologist and anarchist activism. The police, SIS, and the right-wing blogosphere know that it's not illegal to talk tough and play soldier - but they want to make it so, at least for people whose political views they don't like. When former leaders of neo-Nazi organisations do it, though, it's apparently okay - unless Kyle Chapman's "Survive Club" is next to be raided by battalions of ninjas.

Terror raids - charges linked to just 4 guns

5:00AM Saturday November 17, 2007 By Phil Taylor

The anti-terror raids of October 15 resulted in the seizure of only four weapons and 230 rounds of ammunition that have led to charges.

The early-morning raids involved more than 300 officers.

The police have not said what they seized in the property searches in Auckland, Waikato, the Bay of Plenty, Wellington and Christchurch using warrants alleging crimes under the Terrorism Suppression Act and have declined a request to do so.

But of 16 people charged with firearms offences, items seized on October 15 are the basis of charges against only two - Tame Iti, and a man who has name suppression.

The charges Iti faces include illegal possession on that date of three rifles - a Ruger, a Siga and a Machtech - while the other man is charged in regard to a Ruger rifle and 100 rounds of .22 calibre bullets and 130 rounds of .303 calibre ammunition.

The police said it was inappropriate to comment about matters before the court.

Many of the 16 are charged jointly with up to 12 others and the dates the offences are alleged to have occurred relate to dates of the alleged training camps in the Ureweras. The earliest charges relate to November 2006.

The Crown predominantly appears to rely on evidence from surveillance of the camps and interception of conversations. While the latter would be admissible for charges under the Terrorism Suppression Act, it is unlikely to be for firearms charges.

Meanwhile, the Solicitor-General says he has no plans to provide a detailed assessment of flaws he identified in the Terrorism Suppression Act, which he said was "almost impossible to apply in a coherent manner".

His criticism prompted the Government to refer the matter to the Law Commission.

An Auckland University specialist in criminal procedure, Associate Professor Scott Optican, said Dr Collins' input would be invaluable to the commission because he had assessed the evidence and the terrorism law.

"How can the Law Commission comment on the sufficiency of a law unless they know exactly what are the problems alleged with it with respect to the facts of this case," said Professor Optican, a former prosecutor.

"I haven't been convinced enough to know whether there really is a problem in the law or [whether] the case just failed for lack of proof.

"You have to make a rational argument as to what is wrong with the law and why you want it to get at behaviour that it doesn't get at. Just to say the law is rubbish isn't enough; you have to be very specific in light of the facts of the case."

A spokeswoman for Dr Collins said he was not doing a report on the matter and had not been asked to.

But it was usual for the commission in the course of reviews of legislation to consult all agencies with an interest in the particular legislation.

Defend free speech - defend the Urewera 17

EDITED TO ADD:

"...soon as the cops round the buggers up and treat them as criminals the better..."

- Labour cabinet minister Shane Jones (right) shows an admirable devotion to the principles of free expression and "innocent until proven guilty". In the wake of the collapse of the terror case against the Urewera 17, the police (and, possibly, the SIS) have been running around trying to pawn off their "evidence" on whichever media outlet is most keen for an old-fashioned lynching. First TV3, then the Herald on Sunday, and today the Dominion-Post. The only way to explain this contempt for the judicial process is that the cops have decided that they can't criminalise most or even all of the defendants in a court of law, and have decided that trial by media, smear and innuendo is the only way forward to achieve their aims. Socialist Worker has said from the beginning that the real agenda behind the terror raids was to criminalise radical dissent, particularly from Maori sovereigntists, ecological activists and anarchists. And if they can't manage that, they can at least try to line up public opinion behind a witchhunt. Witness the disgusting racist cartoons that appeared in yesterday's newspapers. The police and their media patsies want you to be disturbed that people were allegedly talking about assassinations or property damage. Unfortunately for the cops, while making plans to do any such thing is illegal, simply discussing it is not. This is why the Urewera 17 aren't up on "conspiracy to murder" or "conspiracy to damage property" charges - the police have nothing. The end goal of this media witchhunt is to gain public support for criminalisation of speech, thought and actions which aren't illegal yet. Do New Zealanders want to live in a country where even talking about certain subjects is illegal? That's the question we have to answer. If the Urewera 17 are branded with the scarlet letter of terrorism, how long before anyone who doesn't accept the current "rules of the game" are in the same boat? When will they come for Hone Harawira - or even Keith Locke? The only thing in the leaked "evidence" which is even close to being illegal under actual existing law is the possession of unlicenced firearms - and, rumour has it, "possession" is a very loose term for quite a few of the defendants. Regardless of whether we agree with their political ideas or strategy, all those who believe that there should be real political debate in this country should stand by the Urewera 17, and by the idea that thought and speech should not be criminalised or anathematised unless there's a damn good reason for it. The cheerleaders for state terror say that "there is no reason for violence in a democracy". Perhaps they might want to look at the social exclusion, exploitation and racism that underpins their vaunted "democracy for a few", and decide whether those who refuse to toe the line deserve to have state terror and media slander unleashed on them. Unpopular political speech is not, nor should it be, a crime. The job of the police is to prevent crime, not to engage in media witchhunts against people they just don't like.

Our comrades are free - but keep up the fight!

The terror charges against the “Urewera Seventeen” have been dropped, and most if not all of them appear to have won bail. But this isn’t the end of the fight. We have to keep up the pressure to make sure this abuse of police authority never happens again. The police and the police sympathisers in the government and media are already starting their spin campaign. Their own Solicitor-General has admitted that the current terror laws are “incoherent”. But incredibly, some politicians and media figures are saying that the fact that these political activists are out on bail pending trial shows that the law should be tougher - rather than that it should have never been used in the first place. Despite what we’re told about the role of the courts and “innocent until proven guilty”, the word of a policeman is good enough to convince these prominent leaders about who needs to be locked up. That runs contrary to everything that we’re taught a democracy should look like. Police Commissioner Howard Broad has said in the media that the problem with everyday law like the Crimes Act or the Arms Act is that they can’t be used before a potential crime has been committed or is even in its planning stages. So Commisioner Broad wants terror laws to give police the power to arrest people who have done nothing and are planning nothing. When a senior policeman talks like that, everyone who believes in liberty of conscience or expression should be worried. This kind of “pre-emptive policing” sounds like something from a science fiction movie. Unlike in the Spielberg film Minority Report, though, the cops won’t be acting on the basis of information from psychics. They will be acting on their own personal prejudices and willingness to believe in an imaginary “terrorist threat”. No thoughtcrime Helen Clark is going around saying that these are “serious” charges remaining under the Arms Act. But it’s well known that some of those on firearms charges aren’t accused of firing or even owning an unlicenced gun - but simply being in the same room as someone who was holding an unlicenced gun. If that information got out further, this attempt to sow mass panic about a “terrorist evil in our midst” would be stopped in its tracks. The basis of terror laws is what George Orwell called “thoughtcrime” - that police should have the right to punish people who are even considering acting in a certain way. Those who support terror laws want to make it illegal for people to even think about acting against the State - a threat to not just Pakeha anarchists or Tuhoe nationalists, but everyone who doesn’t have faith that “our own” government, army and police are right all the time about everything. The Terror Laws must be abolished - before they are used against any of us who doesn’t shut up and do what they’re told. We need to build the biggest possible political movement against these anti-democratic laws - and the corporate politicians in Labour and National who support them.

'For freedom fighters around the country', says Tame Iti

Friday November 09, 2007 By Edward Gay

Freed Tuhoe activist Tame Iti thanked his supporters in emotional scenes outside the Auckland High Court this evening.

After beating terror charges yesterday, Iti was released on bail from the Auckland High Court just after 5pm this evening.

"It's for freedom fighters all around the country. Thank you for your support," Iti told his followers.

Earlier, Justice Cooper approved his bail amid scenes of high excitement from Tuhoe supporters.

Iti and four others, who were also released on bail, will return to the Auckland District Court on December 3.

The five are facing firearms charges following the Solicitor-General David Collins' decision yesterday not to allow police to bring terrorism charges against any of the 'Urewera 16'.

The accused had their bail hearings heard in two groups with four people - Valerie Morse, Emily Bailey, Omar Hamed and a Swiss national who has name suppression - receiving bail, before Iti entered the dock.

Iti then received a separate bail hearing and was awarded bail.

The decisions sparked scenes of jubilation in the court, forcing Justice Cooper to remind the public that his courtroom was not a place for such scenes.

Their successful bail application followed that of a co-accused, 38-year-old Whiri Kemara, who was bailed this morning.

In a dramatic afternoon, all members of the public and the media were asked to leave the courtroom while the crown prosecutor presented secret police evidence in relation to the bail application against the accused to the court.

Justice Cooper said that the five accused faced charges under the Arms Act which carry a maximum sentence of four years in prison and up to $5000 in fines.

No terror charges for the Urewera 17!

The Solicitor-General has decided not to authorise the police to prosecute the "Urewera 17" under the Terrorism Suppression Act. The Solicitor General has also endorsed the argument of Socialist Worker that the current TSA is an inoperative piece of legislation. Now most of the Urewera 17 are charged with only offences under the Firearms Act - most of which seem to be only charges of handling an unlicenced firearm, and most of which seem to relate to one and the same firearm. Unless the police can show any evidence that any of them are liable to harm people or evade prosecution, there is now no longer any justification to keep any of these people in jail without trial. Bail them all - NOW! No terror charges to be laid by police Solicitor General David Collins QC announced this afternoon the cases did not warrant prosecution under the Terrorism Suppression Act. 4:03PM Thursday November 08, 2007 By Edward Gay The police are not charging any of the so-called Urewera 16 under the Terrorism Suppression Act, despite using the legislation to search homes last month. Police took 12 of the 16 cases to the Solicitor General last month who assessed the police's evidence. Solicitor General David Collins QC announced this afternoon that the cases did not warrant prosecution under the act but could go ahead under the Arms Act. Mr Collins told a media conference that he had read hundreds of pages of communications and viewed photographs and video footage. "Regrettably not all the evidence I have been able to see will be made public," Mr Collins said. "The key reason I am not prepared to authorise prosecutions under the act is there is insufficient evidence to establish to the very high standard required that a group was preparing a terrorist act," Mr Collins said. He said his decision was not a criticism of the police who had no doubt "put an end to disturbing activities". Mr Collins criticised the legislation and said it should be reviewed by the Law Commission. He said it was complex and incoherent and was almost impossible to apply to domestic terrorists. But he said a lot of the evidence will be made public during the up-coming trials. "Police were following proper practice under the Terrorism Supersession Act," Mr Collins said. Peter Williams QC is representing residents of Ruatoki who have complained about the way armed police searched their homes last month. Mr Williams said the Solicitor General's decision was a wise one and he was personally pleased with it. "In a small way they have contributed to the hysteria possibly being emitted by certain aspects of the prosecution but on the other hand it's not the issue the people of Ruatoki are looking at, they're looking at whether or not there was a form of terrorism by the police themselves," Mr Williams said.

Mass meeting of Civil Rights Defence Campaign

Monday November 5, 7.30pm,
Methodist Chapel, Queen St,
Opposite Auckland Town Hall

SPECIAL GPJA FORUM WITH GUEST SPEAKER JANE KELSEY
AND DEFENCE CAMPAIGN PLANNING MEETING – ALL WELCOME

We want everyone to come to this meeting if they can. Jane will update us all on the current legal situation and the implications for civil liberties in New Zealand. We will also be planning the next steps of the campaign to stop the use of the terror laws and get the arrested out of prison.

ORGANISING MEETINGS
AUCKLAND: Civil Rights Defence Committee,
6pm, Tuesdays, Unite House, Level 12, 300 Queen St
WELLINGTON: Weekly support group meetings - open to all - 6pm Tuesdays at 128 Abel Smith St

How the Labour "left" deals with criticism

Labour delegate (and formerly leading figure in the Alliance) Len Richards swings a megaphone at protestors outside the NZ Labour Party conference in Takapuna today. The protestors were there in solidarity with the Urewera 17, and wanted answers from trade union delegates as to whether they would raise the issue inside. The current debate over the powers of the police to close down debate is certainly showing who's on whose side. Note the quote in the article below by Jill Ovens, another Labour delegate and former Alliance leader. Conference protesters allege assault By COLIN ESPINER - Stuff.co.nz | Saturday, 3 November 2007 A protest outside Labour's annual conference in Auckland has turned ugly, with with assault allegations against conference delegates, police confrontation and several arrests. Around 150 protesters have gathered outside the doors of the Bruce Mason Centre in Takapuna, on Auckland's North Shore, in a noisy demonstration against the Government's Suppression of Terrorism Amendment Bill. Protesters alleged that a Labour Party delegate assaulted one of their number while one man was dragged away by police in handcuffs after leaping on a police van. Television camereas appear to show Labour Party delegate Len Richards picking up a megaphone and striking a protester in the face. Waitamata police inspector Paul Marshall confirmed a protester had lodged a complaint with police against a Labour Party delegate, for the alleged assault. Marshall said police would view television footage of the incident before deciding whether to bring charges. Some are wearing combat gear and others are clad in orange boiler suits chained together with gags in their mouths and the words "terrorist" or "anarchist" on their backs. The group is chanting "Helen Clark terrorist" and "no more police state". The protest swelled from just a handful at 9am, and by late morning around 150 had gathered. Police had to call in at least 60 reinforcements after a group tried to break the line and move towards the conference centre. Labour delegates gathered for the party's 91st conference had to run a gauntlet of cries of "shame" as they entered the venue, where they discussing remits on economic and housing policy this morning. A man was arrested for repeatedly attempting to break the police line and spitting in the face of a police officer. Police said they arrested three people, two of whom would be released without charge. A third would be charged with assaulting an officer. Protesters and media swarmed over police as they struggled to hold one man to the ground, who was yelling "police scum". Protesters also claimed the police arrested a young man for performing a haka. Veteran activist John Minto said the protesters were angered by "completely provocative behaviour from the police. "Civil rights are protected by protest not police. Shame on the Labour Government for passing those laws." Minto said Labour delegates could not shrug their shoulders. "It was your party and your Prime Minister that passed these laws and who supported the police actions against Tuhoe." But Labour Party delegate and Service Workers' Union spokeswoman Jill Ovens said protesters did not understand that many in Labour did not support the terrorism bill. "The unions have consistently opposed the Terrorism Suppression Act and we have passed very strong resolutions calling for that action to be repealed. "But I don't support advocating the use of violence because it just turns people against our cause." Prime Minister Helen Clark is due to speak to the conference at 2pm and is yet to arrive at the venue. The protesters are also calling for the release of "political prisoners" arrested by police in the so-called anti-terrorism raids nationwide several weeks ago.

DRUMS OF WAR

- PLEASE PASS ON TO YOUR NETWORKS -

Kia ora te whanau,

Our roopu have just recorded a new song about the recent
Police terror raids and the place of Maori within the
so called 'justice' system.
The lyrics are by MC Flowsion
aka Warren Beazley no Nga Puhi,
the beats are by High Stakes Records.

We're selling the tune on CD for a gold coin koha ,
all proceeds will go to the innocent families
caught up in the raids.
We pressed up 50 yesterday but
they already sold out,
so we're putting it up for download here:

http://www.myspace.com/highstakesrecordsnz

We'll be selling more CDs at rallies and
public meetings protesting the
Police actions.

Please support this take in any way you can,
whether it be marching,
writing, singing, painting, hei aha,
every voice counts. He koha iti
tenei mo te Iwi.

Nga manaaki,
Tiopira McDowell
High Stakes Records
highstakesrecords@gmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/highstakesrecordsnz

TERROR RAIDS- John Minto replies to Chris Trotter

Kia ora Chris,

I don’t usually write to people like this because there are usually more productive things to do. However I’ll make an exception in this case.

I didn’t see your earlier pieces on the so-called “terror roundup” but saw your Dominion piece on Friday and SST column last weekend. I thought both were shallow and sometimes pompous but more importantly they were a weak commentary on kiwi activism and potentially damaging in relation to the accused.

Two weeks ago the police and SIS launched probably the most savage assault on the progressive movement in my lifetime. Your immediate instinct was to duck for cover and cut adrift a group of activists you can only surmise about. You preferred the long shadow cast by the state’s forces than, for example, engaging in battle to prevent the anti-terror laws being used for the first time. In fact I’m not sure you’ve even mentioned the anti-terror laws. Have you caught up with them yet and what they mean for civil rights in New Zealand?

Dozens of young activists have been visited over the past two weeks by police with thick folders containing transcripts of every phone call, every text and every email they have sent in the past year. Is this not worth a mention?

You then went further and gave active support to what you describe as the police thesis of an alliance between “Maori separatists and eco-anarchists”. Unlike other commentators you weren’t prepared to wait and see what evidence the police produce. Instead you’ve been busy doing your best to bolster the state’s case in the public mind.

I had the experience of sitting through a bail hearing for Rongomai Bailey last week. Despite being arrested on arms charges including being in possession of a Molotov cocktail the police agreed they were unable to produce any evidence he had ever even touched a weapon. They did produce surveillance transcripts of two bugged car journeys (which incidentally are inadmissible on the arms charges). The evidence itself is suppressed but suffice to say there was nothing in even the “juiciest” bits read to court in relation to Rongomai that would not be heard at any gun club in New Zealand on a Saturday afternoon.

I’m sure the police will come up with a few headlines (Jamie Lockett “declaring war on New Zealand” was one) as time passes but I doubt any kind of credible terrorist threat will emerge despite it already being a reality in what seems to be your somewhat fevered imagination.

As it stands you have aligned yourself with our state forces against good New Zealanders.

It’s not the first time you’ve ducked. When the US/UK launched the attack on Iraq in 2003 you sided with Tony Blair against the rest of mankind. Why is it with the big issues you seem to lose the plot? Will you side with the US/Israel when they launch their long awaited attack on Iran?

People who know you better than me tell me the problem is you are not connected in any meaningful way to any groups active in any particular issues so that your commentary is often theoretical and disconnected from daily struggle. I don’t know if this is true but it seems the only explanation that makes any sense to me.

Don’t feel you have to respond Chris. I’ve said enough and am unlikely to have the time to respond again anyway. There’s plenty of real work to do.

Regards,

John Minto

Minto- Police push for anti-terror charges politically motivated

Police push for anti-terror charges politically motivated

John Minto

29 October 2007

The police decision to refer evidence from their so-called “anti-terror” activities to the Attorney General is deeply disturbing. (The Attorney General has delegated to the Solicitor General)

If the police believe they have evidence of breaches of the law then they can lay charges under any number of legal provisions. Instead they have chosen to pursue charges under the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002.

Behind this decision is the deeply political need to justify the huge extra resources and wide legislative powers the police and Security Intelligence Service have been given since 2001. They have to find terrorists. Uncovering criminal activity is not enough for these “wannabe terrorist fighters”.

What the police are now doing is charging political activists under a law which would have made many of the civil disobedience protests from 1981 into “terrorist activities”. Activities such as the 40 people sitting on Rotorua airport runway, the invasion of the pitch in Hamilton and the blocking of the Harbour Bridge could all qualify.

(The Terrorism Suppression Act defines a terrorist as someone who, for political reasons, causes “serious disruption to an infrastructure facility, if likely to endanger human life…” This catch-all definition underlines the danger of these laws.)

Cullen’s cowardice
Meanwhile Attorney General Michael Cullen’s decision to delegate the responsibility for deciding charges to the Solicitor General is conveniently cowardly. This Terrorism Suppression Act is the Labour government’s law with the provision inserted by Labour for the Attorney General to approve terrorism charges. Cullen is now ducking for cover.

He wasn’t so shy late last year when he intervened at a moment’s notice to quash attempts to bring alleged Israeli war criminal Mosche Ya’alon (“the butcher of Qana”) to justice.

Cullen ordered the abandonment of the arrest warrant issued against Ya’alon by Auckland District Court Judge Avinash Deobhakta. Earlier Deobhakta had found there were “good and sufficient reasons” for the New Zealand police to arrest Ya’alon.

To now pretend somehow that he should leave the decision to law experts is gutless. Cullen will be the subject of protest at the Labour Party conference this coming weekend.

John Minto
Spokesperson
Ph (09) 8463173 (H)
(09) 8452132 (W)

John Minto on Winston Peters - spittle-flecked dog whistling

Winston Peters - spittle-flecked dog whistling

29 October 2007

Claims of apartheid among those supporting the activists arrested in
the recent para-military police raids across New Zealand are typical
of Winston Peters's spittle-flecked dog whistling.

To suggest those protesting are doing so because some of those
arrested are brown is pathetic.

Peters has a long history of racial opportunism and added to that
history over the weekend. Previously he has attacked Asians, refugees
and Maori rights supporters in race-based attacks. Last weekend's
torrent of abuse from Peters is par for the course.

Peters was a part of the National Party in the 1970's and 1980s which
regarded Nelson Mandela as a terrorist and regarded the African
National Congress as a terrorist organisation. Peters has never
marched against apartheid but has regularly stood abusing from the
sidelines.

We are opposed to the threat of using the Terrorism Suppression Act
and its amendments against political activists. This is the most
serious threat to civil rights in New Zealand since the 1951
waterfront lockout.

The most surprising aspect of last Saturday's protests was the degree
of unity amongst the diverse groups represented. We have not seen such
a range of groups with such unity for a long time in New Zealand protest.

John Minto
Global Peace and Justice Auckland

March for Freedom- thousands march

Join the Civil Rights Defence Facebook Group Here

Watch TV3 news report here

Thousands of protestors have rallied in a 'national day of action', opposing the so-called 'anti terrorism' raids, and calling for those arrested to be immediately released on bail.

Among the crowd of a thousand in Auckland was Rongomai Bailey who is one of the handful of accused people already on bail.

Johann Smith is passionate about his country, its people and their rights.

And so the Wairoa local travelled more than 500 kilometres to Auckland to help lead the march against the police raids.

The rally attracted more than a thousand protesters - Maori, pakeha, ethic groups, young, old, those with money and power, and those without.

Together they marched - or in some cases wheeled - to Mount Eden prison, where most of those arrested are being held on remand.

The crowd called for no charges to be laid under the terrorism suppression act against the 17 arrested and for the act to be dumped.

Rongomai Bailey was among those who were arrested.

He was allowed to address the crowd, but for legal reasons we can't identify him.

In the garden city, protestors took a more civil approach..

Protestors are now drumming up support around the world - a rally is being held in london in a few hours.

TVNZ News- Anger grows over police raids- watch video here

Oct 27, 2007 8:30 PM

Eleven days on and the anger at the so-called terror raids is continuing to mount.

Saturday saw another round of nationwide protests and instead losing interest in the cause, numbers are growing and emotions are running high.

"We've got a very strong message here from the people of Auckland - from people right throughout New Zealand, and the world," says protester John Minto.

A large crowd gathered in Auckland's city centre and marched to Mount Eden jail, where most of those arrested are being held on remand.

Along the way there was a show of solidarity for Tuhoe Maori and Tame Iti, one of those still in custody.

It was the same message in Wellington, where numbers were also up on last week's protest. They echoed the call for unity.

"By picking out Tuhoe; by picking out Ureweras, it is a kind of strategy to divide different communities - something we need to be careful about and try to stick together," says protester, Dr Maria Bargh.

There were also protests in Christchurch but this day of action isn't just confined to New Zealand. Demonstrations are also planned for Melbourne and London.

They want the terrorist laws abandoned. One man now out on bail, Rongamai Bailey, says their colleagues should be released now.

"I'm not a terrorist and the guys in Mount Eden are not terrorists," says Bailey.

Until police show their hand this issue is unlikely to go away.

"The government will ignore this movement at its peril," says Minto.

Kia Ora

1000 plus people marched in Aucks today in support of Tuhoe, Civil
Rights and activists and community workers arrested and harrassed around the
country today. Special guests were two bus loads of Tuhoe people who had
travelled up from the Urewera's to honour people with their presence. Many people
from the community were represented in the march, Maori, P.I, Pakeha, working
class, middle classes, academics and students and activists from a range of
groupings.
The march was peaceful and law abiding, if energetic and righteously
angry at times. The Police adopted a non confrontational approach, and numbers
were lower on the march itself than i have seen in a few years. Many fine
activists and people led chants, waved banners and flags, and the Tuhoe flags
blew strong in the Aucks breeze. the march was well organised, and led by people
like John Minto, Mike Treen from GPJA, and Simon Ooosterman the Anarchist bro,
but the march itself was led by Tuhoe, and they led well with great chants,
flags, spirit, courage, and humility, good people trying to help their
community out.

People got out of the way of the Tuhoe people so they could lead the
demo at various parts of the march, cos they had been hurt the hardest by the
raids a few weeks back.
The march left downtown Auckland before arriving at Mount Eden Prison.
Speakers at the Mount included Tuhoe spokespeople, Civil Liberties people, Green
M.P Keith Locke, Solidarity Union rep Joe Carolan, and Maori Trade Unionist
and activist Helen Te Hira, and one of the arrested activists who had been
bailed.
In other words, Te Tino issues, civil rights issues, trade union
issues, US imperialism issues ( related to NZ becoming a flunky to the US via the
new Terrorism Amendment Act) and the terrorism by Police of Maori
communities were all raised as issues. Simon Ooosterman spoke about what the crowd of
people could do in order to support the prisoners in practical ways, visits,
letters, messages, solidarity in practical ways. A letter written by Tame Iti
was read by one of his Tuhoe whanauanga was read to the crowd and drew a warm
applause of solidarity. It was marvellous to see so many young people, older
experienced activists, and community people from both Aucks and Tuhoe marching in a
real spirit of Unity respect, and solidarity. Keith Locke made special
mentions of the fine work the Maori Party had done on this issue, as well as his
own Party, and that work is ongoing as the Terrorism suppression Amendment Bill is
not law yet. Keith spoke about how it is Tuhoe, more so than activists, who
had been victimised by Police actions a few weeks ago. This session was held at
the Probation service offices, opposite the old Mt Eden prison.



The marchers then marched to the actual new remand Prison, where the
political prisoners are being held, and stood outside the prison where people
chanted for the freedom of the imprisoned people. Prison guards manned the roof of
the prison, perimeters of the grounds, while Police guarded the front gate.
Cops on the gate may have numbered perhaps 10. But the people was cool, like
the cops, which was the right move in order to challenge the state under the
circumstances ( by building mass, open people pressure). Another series
of speeches was delivered to the crowd at this point. John Minto said
people should look at the Global Justice and Justice Auckland ( GPJA) for a
newsletter people can sign up to, online that will give people info about new
demonstrations, new pickets, fundraising, and ongoing support for all
people involved. Check out the GPJA website for details, and for the daily
newsletter John Minto, Gereldene Peters and Mike Treen are producing.

Jimmy O'Dea the older Irish brother who got his home busted into on Thursday up at the
Point spoke well about his experience. One of the Tuhoe bro's who got bail
spoke and thanked the crowd for supporting their whanaunga and community and
received a warm applause.
The most moving, and powerful speech came from Tame Iti's son, who
spoke about his father, his fathers vision for an inclusive NZ where all NZers can
mix and mingle in peace. The air was electric when Tame's son spoke, and the
brother thanked the crowd for supporting his people. Brother spoke with passion
and vision, calm and collected. After this speech was given the message was
passed to return back to the Aucks city centre. the people returning to Aucks
was less than the 1000 plus who started but that was cool. new activity is
planned, organising work is being done, the spirit of marchers and organisers is
strong, and there is a spirit in the air that people must keep organising and
fighting this Bill.

I was unable to visit the Tuhoe manuhiri at their marae in Mangere, but
i know Helen Te Hira, and fellow Maori activist Lena Henry told me they were
taking kai out to the good people of Tuhoe, after the march ended, to their
marae, so they are being looked after. All in all a good days activity, lots of
people handing out awesome leaflets, posters, and people meeting mixing and
mingling in peaceful protest. On a personal note, i met up with a bro from Ngati
Whatua, Barry Hawke, who i worked with years ago on a building project. he is
one of the sons of Grant Hawke, one of the leaders of the struggle at
Takaparawhau (Bastion Point) in 1977-1979. It was moving for me to hear Barry speak
about the need of his young Maori people to stand up and get involved. he spoke
about how the older generation had done their yards, now it was our turn. Barry
was there with some people from his Maori hostel, a mean roopu of brothers. Barry
was interested in getting more of his Ngati Whatua people involved. This
was before the march even left Aotea square, so its inspiring to see a younger
generation of Maori people activating and serving their people, to much.

i hear that Christchurch had 200 people on the demos
down there today on the same kaupapa. solidarity,

Tony Fala

Civil Rights Hikoi in Rotorua

From http://www.tangatawhenua.com/HikoiRotorua-001.htm

Flags, drums, banners and a passionate flow of over 700 kaumatua, pakeke, rangatahi and tamariki marched peacefully against the police anti-terror raids which began 15 October.

The procession started at the mall end of Rotorua's city centre at 12.15pm and marched down Tutanakai Street to City Focus where several speakers touched upon the reasons behind the raids and importance of standing firm in support of civil liberties and indigenous rights. Among those who spoke were lawyer Annette Sykes, principal and EBOP Okurei Maori councillor, Hawea Vercoe, veteran activist Bernie Hornfeck and an indigenous brother from North America (who has a Tuhoe wife and children).

The marchers then moved down towards the Rotorua District Court House where several police officers, many of whom were Maori, were standing guard in front of the Court House. One of the many eloquent and articulate organisers of the march posed the following question to those prihimana, asking, "why do you stand in defence of those who colonised you and not stand with us protecting your communities?"

The protest coincided with today's court hearing which sought to determine if Tame Iti will be allowed bail and if the trial will take place in Auckland instead of Rotorua. Critics of the move suggest that the goal of shifting the venue is to take Iti away from his peers and as far away from Tuhoe lands as possible.

The Crown successfully applied to transfer the case to Auckland and the three people charged were remanded in custody to appear in court on November 1 and 2. Annette Sykes, Iti's lawyer said they would appear in the High Court at Rotorua on Monday to appeal his denied bail decision by Judge James Rota last week as well as the trial transfer to Auckland.

Click on the following links to view coverage of the Rotorua hikoi from other sources:

New Zealand Herald
The Stuff (Iti's case transferred to Auckland)
One News coverage of the Hikoi in Rotorua (includes a short video)