October 15th SolidarityNewsletters
- No. FIVE - 25th July 2008
- No. FOUR - 11th June 2008
- No. THREE - 29th April 2008
- No. TWO - 7th April 2008
- No. ONE - 18th March 2008
October15thSolidarity.info NEWSLETTER No. FIVE - 25th July 2008
Tena koutou,
we send out irregular updates on the campaign to support the people arrested in the so-called 'anti-terror' raids in Aotearoa (New Zealand) on 15th October 2007 3 more people were arrested on 19th February 2008 and one on 17th April 2008. Although charges under the Terrorism Suppression Act were never laid, 20 people are still facing charges under the Arms Act and need your support.
:: UPCOMING EVENTS
DAY OF ACTION – 30 August 2008 is the International Day of Action in support of those raided and against the raids. Organise resistance in your community!
== Wellington/Te Whanganui a Tara ==
1. 'Dawn raids - 9 months on... A wider look at the raids of October 15th 2007' - October 15th Solidarity Public Meeting: 7pm, Thursday 31st July, Newtown Hall on Daniell St (opposite the Mediterranean Food Warehouse). Note this is not the main Newtown Community Centre. Followed by talk over tea, coffee and biscuits.
Speakers: Moana Jackson (Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Porou), Jane Kelsey (Arena trustee, Professor Law at Auckland University), Kiritapu Allan (Ngati Ranginui, Nga Te Rangi, Conscious Collaborations) & others.
The speakers will cover a range of topics including Tino Rangatiratanga, perspectives on where things are at nine months on, the Terrorism Suppression Act (TSA), the broader context of the raids, and personal experiences.
2. Benefit Gig: SOUL FIRE: an evening of soul, hip hop, reggae, ragga, dancehall, dubstep and more, Friday, 1st August. Join Yardwise and friends at Vintage Bar (25 Taranaki St) for an evening of true-skool hip hop, soul, reggae, ragga, dancehall, dubstep and extra special surprises! $5!
3. Solidarity Crew Organising meetings: Weekly on Tuesdays, at Oblong Internet Cafe, Left Bank, Cuba Mall, 7pm
4. Protest, 30th August – Day of Action – 30 August is the International Day of Action in support of those raided and against the raids. Meet outside 128 Abel Smith St at midday.
== Raglan/Whaingaroa ==
1. Film screening: Tuesday, 29 July, 7:30pm, 'The Last Resort' at the The Old
School Arts Centre, Stewart Street, $10 entry includes free cupcakes. Kids = no charge
A provocative documentary centred around the proposed subdivision of the 60 year old Opoutama campground in Mahia, and subsequent occupation. The film shines a timely light on the Overseas Investment Bill, Land and Business Ownership, the Real Estate industry and the concepts of sovereignty and self-determination.
== Auckland/Tamaki Makaurau ==
1. Deposition Hearings start in the District Court on 1st September and last a whole month!
:: DONATIONS
If you would like to make a donation, check out
http://www.october15thsolidarity.info/donate for details of the various funds.
:: ARTICLES and UPDATES
1. Sign onto the Solidarity Statement!
Support the international day of action and the on-going solidarity work by signing onto our statement below and getting active in your community. The solidarity statement below is for both individuals and organisations. If you would like to sign onto the statement, please email us at info@october15thsolidarity.info with your name and/or organisation and we will include you. The international day of action is scheduled for Saturday 30 August (this is just before the start of the Depositions Hearings in Auckland on 1 September and set down for a month). If you are interested in organising an event in your community, we can send posters and leaflets, just let us know what you need. Mobilising people on the street is the best action we can take!
Statement of support: October 15th Solidarity
We demand the unconditional freedom of the people who are facing charges as a result of the state terror raids on 15 October 2007.
Attempts by the Police to lay charges under the Terrorism Suppression Act (TSA) failed but people are still facing politically motivated charges under the Arms Act. These charges are the result of a racist operation.
Police used the Terrorism Suppression Act and over $8 million to harass and punish political activists who they saw as supporting Tino Rangatiratanga.
The Police have arrested a few people but we're all targeted. The arrests of 15 October are aimed at intimidating and frightening all of our communities and cannot be tolerated.
We therefore call on everyone to stand up against this attack on our communities. We support the global day of action on 30 August 2008 and are mobilising to demand the unconditional freedom of the people facing charges as a result of the state terror raids.
2. East Coast tribe declares sovereignty
"We are standing up and saying. 'Hey! We are sick of government and government-run Maori agencies taking the very little of what is left in our kapata (cupboard)'" said Hune Papuni of the East Coast tribe Te Whānau-a-Takimoana. At a hui over the weekend, it was decided that tribal land situated within the Takimoana rohe be excluded from any Crown/Ngati Porou Treaty negotiations process or settlement and the Takimoana Government Deed of Constitution and Takimoana Governing Council Rules of Procedure were ratified as the final steps in setting up the whanau/hapu level government structure. More than 50 people attended the meeting in Rangitukia. The Takimoana tribal leadership assert that the tribes of the independent East Coast territory did not cede sovereignty to the British Crown in 1840, and so the New Zealand government has no legal right to rule them. Te Whānau-a-Takimoana was an autonomous tribe of the independent northern East Coast territory of Aotearoa, which held complete sovereignty over the rohe before 1840. The Te Tiriti o Waitangi ki Te Tai Rawhiti (Maori version not English translation) signed at Rangitukia on June 1, 1840 was the prevailing treaty between Takimoana and Queen Victoria and Article 2 of the Tiriti did not cede sovereignty.
"It is about exercising our constitutional and sovereign rights, to attain a full measure of government over our territories including our foreshore, seabed, inland waterways, territorial seas, fisheries and airspace, to promote our own wellbeing, to put an end to the crimes and abuses committed against us by the New Zealand government, marginalisation of our human and property rights, the exploitation of our natural resources, to promote authentic biculturalism, social progress and better standards of life for all New Zealanders" said Tamati Reid of Rangitukia.
A council of 16 kaitiaki (councillors) who are of Takimoana descent make up the new government body. The constitution and rules together provided the pathway towards the repossession of stolen lands and resources, and were instruments to convert theory into practice, he said.
"This kaupapa has been years in the planning. It's about our fundamental rights and freedoms to control our own destiny as promised to us in our treaty" said Tamati Reid. Kaumatua and Justice of the Peace Bob Kaa said he believed their initiative was sanctioned by the UN and could be the catalyst for a major shake-up of New Zealand's constitutional arrangements. One of the first priorities of the proposed government would be governance capability-building through strategies aimed at restoring the tribe's economic base. "Policy development on repossessing our foreshore and seabed and other lands unlawfully taken by successive settler governments will be a priority area for the Takimoana government," said Mr Kaa.
"It may take a long time for our people to do a U-turn of course — it took them 100 years to be colonised. This is not an anti-Pakeha movement — they are most welcome to come to the meeting. It doesn't discredit any Pakeha, nor does it aim to take away any of their rights — 99 percent of us have a significant amount of that ancestry ourselves."
3. Your ideas for a journal
Submissions are being sought now for a new journal discussing such ideas as:
- Tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake,
- Tino rangatiratanga and anarchism,
- colonisation, racism and the Treaty of Waitangi,
- class, race and capitalism,
- indigenous independence struggles,
- decentralisation and community organising,
- tino rangatiratanga and multi-cultural integration,
- sustainabilty and tino rangatiratanga
- and social revolution.
Send written pieces to tinorangatiratanga.inaianei@gmail.com by August 1st 2008. You are welcome to use a pseudonym (fake name) if you want to and no contact details are necessary.
Articles in te reo māori are especially encouraged (with english translations if possible). We invite writers young and old, and people of any ethnicity to contribute. Please tell your friends and whānau...
:: RESOURCES
There are poster, newsletters and leaflets available here:
http://october15thsolidarity.info/en/node/236
:: LINKS
www.October15thSolidarity.info | www.indymedia.org.nz | www.tuhoe.net | www.gpja.org.nz | www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz
October15thSolidarity.info NEWSLETTER No. FOUR - 11th June 2008
Tena koutou,
we send out irregular updates on the campaign to support the people arrested in the so-called 'anti-terror' raids in Aotearoa (New Zealand) on 15th October 2007 3 more people were arrested on 19th February 2008 and one on 17th April 2008. Although charges under the Terrorism Suppression Act were never laid, 20 people are still facing charges under the Arms Act and need your support.
:: UPCOMING EVENTS
== Wellington/Te Whanganui a Tara ==
1. Benefit Gig: Saturday, 14 June 2pm at the Adelaide, featuring Panda/Battle/Battle/Panda, Dyke Dyke Dyke, Cop Car, Feminazis, Snowfield. $5!
2. Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua-Motu Te Wharekura o Ruatoki: Wednesday, 18 June, 11-11:30am, Te Papa Tongarewa Marae. Awesome kapa haka from Te Urewera
3. Indymedia Film Nights: Friday/Saturday 13/14 June 7pm 'Tūhoe: A history of resistance' and a short film about the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed hikoi, Film Archive Ghuznee/Taranaki Sts
4. Solidarity Crew Organising meetings: Fortnightly from 10 June at Thistle Hall, Cuba Street at 6pm
== Raglan/Whaingaroa ==
1. Film screening: 24 June 7:30pm, 'Tūhoe: A history of resistance' at the The Old School Arts Centre, Stewart Street
2. Film screening: 8 June 7:30pm, Patu at the The Old School Arts Centre, Stewart Street
== Auckland/Tamaki Makaurau ==
1. Solidarity Crew organising meeting: Wednesday, 10 June, 6:30pm outside St. Kevins Arcade, K Road.
2. Bastion Point: The Exhibition: 30 Years On Heritage Floor - Level 2, Central City Library. A tribute to those who demonstrated their concerns with
:: DONATIONS
If you would like to make a donation, check out http://www.october15thsolidarity.info/donate for details of the various funds.
:: ARTICLES and UPDATES
1. Punishment of activists continues
2. Tame Iti allowed to travel
3. One arrestee to be tried in Tauranga
4. Hikoi ano
5. Reading (between) The Lines...
6. Help with documentary
7. G20 court update
1. Punishment of activists continues
Since their arrest in October 2007, all of the people accused in the so-called ‘anti-terror raids’ have had non-association orders in place relating to each other. This means that friends and family members who are jointly charged in the case are not allowed to associate for any purpose. There have been several minor exceptions to this, but in the main, the defendants have been extremely isolated from the very people who could provide them with some support through this intensely difficult and emotionally trying time. These non-association orders have made it very difficult to organise a solidarity campaign and to co-ordinate on-going legal matters.
In most cases, there is no evidential basis for the non-association orders; they are there simply to stop people talking to each other and a means by which the Crown can further punish these people. There has been some relaxation of the orders very recently which has been a great victory in a long journey to finally winning. Long-time friends and comrades who are now jointly charged in the case, Valerie Morse and Emily Bailey had their non-association order varied by consent of the Crown in the High Court in Wellington on Tuesday, 27 May. It allows limited association. An earlier order allows them to live together at Tira Hou Marae during the depositions hearings set downthe entire month of September.
The two had gone to the court in the hope of having the entire restriction removed. However, the judge in the case was not willing to hear the case and has sent the women back to Justice Cooper in the Auckland High Court to hear the matter in full again. This judge had originally ruled in the case on the day of their release from prison in November. There was substantial confusion on the Crown side as to the precise nature of the non-association of Valerie Morse and her friend and co-accused Urs Signer which was part of the argument in the High Court. They tried to suggest that it was limited in nature. This was not the case, as decided by the District Court Judge in Auckland on 5 March, however, this judge failed to maken appropriate notation of it.
Needless to say, it was intensely frustrating as none of the lawyers present, nor the judge, have been present for ANY of the previous hearings. Thus all of the people with the power to present and decide on the case did not have a clear idea of what was actually going on. Meanwhile the friends and supporters of the co-accused sat silently, with no opportunity to clarify a simple bureaucratic error on the part of the courts.
The women are now awaiting a date in the Auckland High Court. Nevertheless, the Judge did indicate that the Crown’s position, given the allowance of the limited association, was fairly “absurd.” Fingers crossed!
2. Tame Iti allowed to travel
Tame Iti’s lawyer Annette Sykes announced that they have successfully secured Tame’s passport so that he can travel overseas. Tame is due to appear in a production of TEMPEST II in Italy and may travel to other European cities and Japan to do further performances. This is a major victory for the case as Tame can now continue his work in educating people worldwide about the struggle of Tūhoe.
Tempest is the performance of a staged hearing, within conditions of detention and loss of sovereign rights. The language of Tempest is dance and its oratory signals the rebirth of an indigenous voice in the telling of the shifting conditions of political right, from the scientific journey to witness the transit of Venus that coincided with colonial conquest, to the current geopolitics of the Pacific reflecting the wider post 9/11 global community.
The play also features on video the recently freed Algerian refugee Ahmed Zaoui who was detained for four years without trial in a New Zealand prison.
3. One arrestee to be tried in Tauranga
Raunatiri Hunt had a pre-depositions hearing on the 29th of May 2008 in the Tauranga District Court. Hunt was arrested on February 19th 2008, in the second wave of arrests as part of ‘Operation 8.’ 20 defendants are currently facing joint charges under the Arms Act. Raunatiri Hunt is the only one who successfully challenged the Crown in moving the depositions hearings to Auckland.
At a depositions hearing the crown has to prove that there is a case to answer, this is required before the trial. The depositions hearing for the other 19 defendants will begin on 1 September 2008 and be at least a month long. The defence has intimated that they need to be in both English and Māori. Raunatiri Hunt’s depositions hearing is scheduled for the 20th of November.
4. Hikoi ano
On the 14th of November 2007 Tūhoe carried out a hikoi to Wellington to protest the raids and arrests just a month earlier. One of the drivers from that hikoi was summonsed to court in Porirua six months later, on charges of dangerous driving. On the 1st of May 2008, Porirua district court was packed with supporters both local, and Tūhoe who had traveled down specifically for the hearing. As it was the school holidays 8 kids had joined the 16 adults who came down for the hearing. The hearing itself took less time than the karakia, and another date was setdown for a follow-up hearing.
Although these are supposedly minor charges, two cops from the anti-terror squad came to the hearing. This shows that the dangerous driving charges are part of the on-going campaign to harass those who stand up and support Tūhoe.
5. Reading (between) The Lines...
Why you will always find what you are looking for or What the SIS and Police Reports tell us
Anyone who has worked in an academic research institute will be familiar with the annual problem of securing funding for the next year. On the one hand, the university finance committee, government department or whoever else is providing the money must get the impression that last year’s funding was a good investment, while at the same time they must be convinced to continue. The annual report then usually indicates that the department is on the verge of a major discovery or has at least made huge progress, but to get really conclusive results, another year’s worth of work, preferably with more staff and resources is required.
It’s no surprise then that the Police and New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (SIS) work the same way. In the aftermath of 9/11 the budgets of both were drastically increased. Attempts to convince the public that Algerian refugee Ahmed Zaoui was such an enormous threat to the country that he had to be deported failed. The deportation in 2006 of a Yemeni national who was deemed a security risk also failed to get the desired public hysteria and fear of terrorists. Eventually, spending all that money and hiring new people has to be justifi ed. After all, who would want to lose the new Special Tactics Group, a Specialist Search Group, a Strategic Intelligence Unit and a National Bomb Data Centre Manager?
Predictably the SIS reports regularly contain statements like: “Although the Service is not aware of a specific terrorist threat against New Zealand, we cannot afford to be complacent. Increasing vigilance is required” (2004/2005) or “While the Service continues to believe that the risk of a terrorist attack on New Zealand or New Zealand interests is low[…], we cannot afford to be complacent.”(2005/2006)
But what has been really going on? The SIS is a bit tight-lipped. In other countries the ‘intelligence community’ is far more verbose. For example, the German Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution) issues an annual report of almost 300 pages with detailed sections on “right-wing extremism, left-wing extremism, Islamic terrorism, extremist organisations of foreigners (not Islamic), espionage and Scientology.” And that’s just on the federal level, each state then issues its own, even more detailed report.
So without that level of detail available here in Aotearoa, we have to look a bit more carefully. There were actually hints that the Police and the SIS thought they were on to something for some time. Since 2007, the SIS has been mentioning the ‘process of radicalisation’ as a new area of investigation, while being very vague about actual results.
The Police reports provide more substance. In 2004, “The Strategic Intelligence Unit has participated in a range of training scenarios to ensure their skills are developed and maintained to a high level”. For 2005 the report states that “Special Investigation Groups, whose work is to complement that of the Strategic Intelligence Unit and the overseas liaison officer network, were established in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in January 2005. These groups are dedicated to the investigation of national security- related crime including terrorism.” While back in 2001 national security wasn’t even mentioned, by 2005 several specially trained groups are dedicated to investigating it. The report for the 2006/07 period then reveals that “Police were involved in four regional policing operations that had potential implications for New Zealand’s national security in aegional context. […] The National Strategic Intelligence Unit has produced a number of strategic and tactical reports on issues related to national security. This reporting has led to targeted investigations in New Zealand in conjunction with other enforcement and intelligence agencies.” The Special Investigation Groups that were created the previous year are reported to be “principally involved in the investigation.”
The pattern here seems to be that first, new legislation is introduced that gives the Police and the SIS vast amount of power to go on fishing expeditions. These organisations then sharpen their view by organising training and subsequently create a number of specialist groups. These groups monitor phones, bug cars and install cameras to gather information on activists until they find something to investigate. Th e results are then assessed by the same people who provided the training.
Ross Meurant, former police officer and head of the Red Squad in the 1981 Springbok tour, describes it: “Police say they have collated information over a period of 12 months which on analysis leads them to the conclusion that there is a real threat to the stability and security of our country. Th e problem as I see it is, that information they have has been self assessed by the same people who collate the data or, at best, by the supervisor of the “intelligence unit” and his superior; all of whom view society from within the forest [=police culture] and with vested interests in producing an outcome which justifies the retention of their unit. These subjective conclusions are presented to judicial officers as the basis of justification for warrants and implementation of anti terror legislation which abrogate the most basic of our legal rights.”
It seems reasonable to assume that ‘Operation Eight’ (which led to the arrests of October 15) was one of the four investigations mentioned in the 2006/7 Police report, and it’s probably related to the other three. Th e targets were Ngāi Tūhoe and others who supported Tino Rangatiratanga, a political concept that threatens the State. This made it easy for the Police and SIS to sell their story of a real terrorist threat without providing much substance and the mainstream media had a feast. But after a month, the terrorism conspiracy collapsed. What remains are long court cases and the emotional scars of the raids. It’s still worth (between) reading the lines.
6. Help with documentary
Matthew Donaldson is making "documentary perspective piece on some of those who had their houses raided, and I've tried to get footage of the 128 break in from TV3 but they refuse to supply it. I was hoping there might be a keen young artist out there, who can realistically re-create the scene from screen shots (attached) by producing drawings which will be used in the documentary. Koha available for the best usable drawings. I'm also looking for Newspaper headlines from around the October 15 raids, and am hoping people who have saved those newspapers can photograph headlines and email them to me."
The film is almost ready and Matt would like to screen it around Aotearoa and the world. If you can help organise a screening in your town, get in touch with Matt: mdmd(at)paradise.net.nz
7. G20 court update
The 13 defendants whose charges have not yet been dealt with in relation to the G20 protests in Melbourne in November 2006 were in court again today. They face charges such as riot, affray, aggravated burglary and assault.The prosecution is seeking imprisonment for the defendants.
Their appearance was for an administrative hearing. The judge wanted to determine the possible length of their trials, in addition to which charges might be tried together. The defendants also succeeded in having their reporting conditions loosened to reporting only once per month and out of state defendants were excused from attending further administrative hearings.
One of the accused, Gabriel Shanks, was given permission to return to New Zealand to live with family in Christchurch until the date of the trial. The prosecution sought to have $40,000 to $50,000 surety provided before this move could happen, but the judge deemed that was excessive and that surety would be $10,000.
The trial was estimated to take at most three months, and the date given for proceedings to start is 30 June, 2009. The defendants next appearance is 1 July when draft presentments will be given. It looks as though there will be at least three or four separate trials held, with some of the smaller matters perhaps being tried prior to the set trial date.
More: http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/75496/index.php and http://www.afterg20.org
:: RESOURCES
There are poster, newsletters and leaflets available here: http://october15thsolidarity.info/en/node/236
:: LINKS
www.October15thSolidarity.info | www.indymedia.org.nz | www.tuhoe.net | www.gpja.org.nz | www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz
October15thSolidarity.info NEWSLETTER No. THREE - 29th April 2008
Tena koutou,
we send out irregular updates on the campaign to support the people arrested in the so-called 'anti-terror' raids in Aotearoa (New Zealand) on 15th October 2007 3 more people were arrested on 19th February 2008 and one on 17th April 2008. Although charges under the Terrorism Suppression Act were never laid, 20 people are still facing charges under the Arms Act and need your support.
:: UPCOMING EVENTS
1. May 1st: Court Apperance of a Tuhoe activist in Porirua District Court. He faces charges for obstructing traffic during the Tuhoe hikoi to Wellington in November 2007.
2. May 1st: Public meeting in Porirua: Tino Rangatiratanga, Tuhoe and the Terror Raids.
Thursday 1 May 7-9pm at Mungavin Hall, Lower Mungavin Avenue. Porirua. Come along to find what the October 15th 'terror raids' mean for you and your family, find out how we can make Tino Rangatiratanga happen in Aotearoa now and what Tuhoe is doing to stand up to police violence. Come along and get involved in the campaign for freedom.
3. May 2nd: Fundraising Gig at Happy in Wellington (corner Tory and Vivian Streets) with Upper Hutt Posse, Mr Sterile Assembly and more... 9pm, $10.
4. Bi-weekly Tuesday Night Solidarity Meetings in Wellington at 6pm at Thistle Hall (top of Cuba Street): 13 May, 27th May etc.
5. 13th May: "Tuhoe and "terrorism" on television news". Media Studies Research Seminars, 4-5pm, VUW, Kelburn Parade 42, room 101, Wellington.
:: DONATIONS
If you would like to make a donation, check out http://www.october15thsolidarity.info/donate for details of the various funds.
:: ARTICLES and UPDATES
1. Further 'Operation 8' arrest in Auckland
A woman was arrested on Thursday (17th April 08) afternoon in Auckland and charged under the Arms Act for alleged participation in 'paramilitary-style training camps' in the Bay of Plenty. She is facing several charges. The woman has been bailed and appeared in the Auckland District Court on 18th April. She was granted name suppression.
2. April 18 - legal update from Auckland appearance today
Lawyers for the accused appeared in the Auckland District Court today and a number of matters were argued. First, another pre-deposition hearing has been scheduled for 19 May. The accused have been excused from this appearance. On this date, the defence will be seeking to establish if the Crown has fully responded to the application for further particulars – a legal term in which to have the Crown enunciate the precise nature of the arms possession charges.
More: http://october15thsolidarity.info/en/node/297
3. Labour party humiliated by protest at election congress
The Labour Party and its cabal of ministers including Cullen, Maharey, King, Laban, Goff and Horomia were humiliated at a protest today outside of their election year congress by people holding them responsible for a range of issues. Helen Clark’s speech was interrupted and ministers were forced outside when a fire alarm went off at approximately 2:20pm. Cullen sought refugee behind his mummy as he walked outside, but that didn’t stop him being confronted by people who had been arrested on October 15th. Members of the Labour Party assaulted people in an attempt to protect their ‘co-leader’ from being targeted. The October 15th Solidarity crew along with whanau from Te Urewera organised a march that went through town in advance of their arrival at the Labour Party conference. Around 100 protestors gathered at 12noon at Te Aro Park and marched through Cuba Mall, Manners and Willis Street. “Ka whawhai tonu matou, ake ake ake!”, “One solution – Revolution!”, “1, 2, 3, 4 – Labour Party out the door” and “When Tuhoe/128/Workers’ Rights are under attack – stand up, fight back” were chanted on the march. Upon arrival, the march was met with a large police presence and a metal barricade. For approximately an hour, there was noisy demonstration with a sit-in blockade at one entrance.
More: http://october15thsolidarity.info/en/node/294
4. Anarchism in New Zealand - an interview with Omar Hamed (Operation 8 arrestee): http://october15thsolidarity.info/en/node/293
5. G20 sentencing: upping the ante on the right to protest
In an obvious attempt to silence political dissent, on April 14, 10 G20 protesters who had pleaded guilty to charges of common law riot, criminal damage and recklessly causing injury received severe sentences in Melbourne’s Magistrates court.
The court cases relate to altercations with police that occurred during the Melbourne G20 summit demonstrations in November 2006. The G20 meeting involved finance ministers, central bank governors, World Bank and International Monetary Fund representatives from the world’s 19 largest economies.
More: http://www.greenleft.org.au/2008/747/38646
:: RESOURCES
There are poster, newsletters and leaflets available here: http://october15thsolidarity.info/en/node/236
:: LINKS
www.October15thSolidarity.info | www.indymedia.org.nz | www.tuhoe.net | www.gpja.org.nz | www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz
October15thSolidarity.info NEWSLETTER No. TWO - 7th April 2008
Tena koutou,
we send out irregular updates on the campaign to support the people arrested in the so-called 'anti-terror' raids in Aotearoa (New Zealand) on 15th October 2007 and on 19th February 2008. Although charges under the Terrorism Suppression Act were never laid, 19 people are still facing charges under the Arms Act and need your support.
:: UPCOMING EVENTS
1. GPJA monthly Forum (Auckland)
2. Public Meeting: Police raids, terrorism and the Labour Party conference (Wellington)
3. Solidarity Gig at Al's Bar (Otautahi/Christchurch)
4. Protest against Labour Party Congress (Wellington)
1. Monday 7th April: GPJA MONTHLY FORUM – ANTI-TERROR LAWS: Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, 7.30pm. Special Forum to update on the campaign to repeal the anti-terror laws. Details of panellists to follow. www.gpja.org.nz
2. Public Meeting: Police raids, terrorism and the Labour Party conference
When: Tuesday, 8 April, 6-8pm
Where: Arlington Hall, Taranaki Street (across from Wellington High School sport fields)
The Labour Party is hosting its election year conference in Wellington on April 11-13. Come help us organise against the racist brutality of this government.
You are invited to a public meeting to discuss how the Labour Party has been responsible for committing acts of terrorism against the people of Tuhoe, responsible for passing a raft of US terrorism legislation, and increasing the powers of the SIS and Police to invade your life.
3. Solidarity Gig at Al's Bar (Otautahi/Christchurch)
Upper Hutt Posse (Wellington, 2 MCs + drummer only)
The Eastern + More
Guest speaker: Urs Signer, arrested in October 15th raids
8:30pm, Thursday 10th April
Al's Bar
31 Dundas St (off Colombo St), Christchurch
$10. Door Sales Only.
CDs, T-Shirts and badges for sale at the door. All funds raised will go towards supporting those arrested in the raids and their whanau during court hearings.
4. Protest against Labour Party Congress (Wellington)
Protest: Saturday 12 April, midday, meet at Te Aro Park (between Ghuznee St and Manners St)
The protest will start at Te Aro Park (also known as Pigeon Park) and move to the Labour Party Congress (held at the Town Hall). Everyone who opposed the raids is invited to come and bring banners, placards and noise-makers. The government has attacked, October 15 Solidarity Wellington will not allow the government that attacked us to congratulate itself in peace.
:: DONATIONS
If you would like to make a donation, check out http://www.october15thsolidarity.info/donate for details of the various funds.
:: ARTICLES
1. Protest: hold the Labour Party responsible for Operation 8
2. Why reject the Treaty? A Maori-pakeha viewpoint.
3. Land of the Long White Lie: The New Zealand Terror Raids
1. Protest: hold the Labour Party responsible for Operation 8
The Labour Party is due to hold its election year conference in Wellington on the weekend of April 11-13. This conference will be the staging ground for protests and demonstrations opposing Operation 8.
Helen Clark, Annette King and Michael Cullen, who will all be in attendance, bear direct responsibility for the Police and Security Intelligence Service attacks on Tuhoe and other activists targeted in the raids. In the week before the raid on 15 October, Helen Clark and John Key met with the Officials Domestic and External Security Committee (ODESC) which includes the head of Police, the SIS, Defence and several other key agencies. At that time, Clark was advised that the Terrorism Suppression Act would be used to raid homes across the country and that activist Tame Iti would be arrested. Subsequent declarations by Michael Cullen that the raids were simply a police operational matter were false. In the first instance, the very notion of ‘terrorism’ is political. These people were not arrested because of what they were doing, but rather because of the ideas and beliefs that they hold. Secondly, a police operation of this magnitude, involving millions of dollars of time and resources, would be closely scrutinised by Helen Clark, who is wellknown for her micro-management of government agencies, and who is, after all, the Minister of the Security Intelligence Service.
Labour bears much broader responsibility for Operation 8. As the party responsible for the introduction and passage of ALL of the post-9/11 anti-terrorism legislation, Labour is a key ally in George W. Bush’s ‘war on terrorism.’ Acts of Parliament included in this ‘war’ agenda are the Terrorism Suppression Act, the Border Security Act, the Maritime Security Act, the Telecommunications (Interception Capability) Act, the Identity (Citizenship and Travel Documents) Act, as well as amendments to the Crimes Act, the SIS Act, the Misuse of Drugs Act, and a major revision of the Immigration Act currently underway. Despite the claims of George Bush and Helen Clark, the agenda of this ‘war’ has little or nothing to do with terrorism. Rather it is the primary means by which those who have power and control over resources to get more. It is very easy to see this in places like Iraq. This same ‘war’ is now being waged here in Aotearoa New Zealand as well.
There are few better examples of this than the Foreshore and Seabed Act of 2004. Since 1840, iwi and hapu have claimed that the foreshore and seabed fall within the exercise of tino rangatiratanga (sovereignty) because they are both part of the whenua (land). When the Court of Appeal decided on June 26, 2003 that the eight Iwi in Marlborough could have their claim to their stretch of foreshore and seabed heard in the Maori Land Court, this Labour Government moved swiftly to extinguish the right simply to have the matter heard before a judge. The land and resources involved make this the largest land confiscation by any New Zealand government since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Meanwhile, the right of pakeha to own land was never considered a threat to those in power.
There are a range of reasons why the Labour Party deserves to be held responsible for Operation 8. The sheer racism of the Party must be exposed. Its main opposition, of course, holds many of these same policies, and bears equal responsibility for the pain and horror caused by the police and SIS.
Let’s take back our freedoms. The showdown with Labour happens on 12 April at 12 noon. The demonstration will assemble at Te Aro Park (Pigeon Park) on Dixon/Manners Street.
2. Why reject the Treaty? A Maori-pakeha viewpoint.
This article was written by 'Operation 8' arrestee Emily Bailey.
"When you learn about the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand schools or on the street (if you manage to hear any of our hushed-up history), you are told how all the Maori chiefs signed the Treaty and how it became the founding document of this country, making us all 'one people'. People speak romantically of Maori wanting to 'share their country' or of Maori having to sign because of being outnumbered and 'losing the war'. It is all lies of course. A convenient lie repeated by those who continue to deny our past and the injustices that happened and continue to happen."
You can read this article here: http://october15thsolidarity.info/node/253
3. Land of the Long White Lie: The New Zealand Terror Raids
This article was written by 'Operation 8' arrestee Valerie Morse.
"On October 15 2007, the New Zealand police carried out unprecedented nation-wide raids arresting 17 indigenous rights activists and anarchists and raiding some 60 different locations. The arrests were based on surveillance and interception warrants obtained under the Terrorism Suppression Act. This was the first time that the police used this Act, a law passed immediately after 9/11 and a direct result of it."
You can read this article here: http://october15thsolidarity.info/node/254
:: RESOURCES
You can download the newsletter produced by the Wellington group here: http://october15thsolidarity.info/files/newsletter%20vol%201%20take%202.... More posters and leaflets are available for download here: http://october15thsolidarity.info/en/node/236
:: LINKS
www.October15thSolidarity.info | www.indymedia.org.nz | www.tuhoe.net | www.gpja.org.nz | www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz
October15thSolidarity.info NEWSLETTER No. ONE - 18th March 2008
Kia ora,
here is the first newsletter from the October15thSolidarity.info crew. We send out irregular updates on the campaign to support the people arrested in the so-called 'anti-terror' raids in Aotearoa (New Zealand) on 15th October 2007 and on 19th February 2008.
:: QUICK SUMMARY
On Monday, October 15th 2007, more than 300 police carried out dawn raids on dozens of houses all over Aotearoa / New Zealand. Police claim the raids were in response to 'concrete terrorist threats' from indigenous activists. The reality, however, included heavily armed police terrorising an entire township. To date, no evidence of the so-called terrorist plot has been revealed.
Police arrested 17 indigenous, anarchist, environmental and anti-war activists, including people from Tuhoe, Te Atiawa, Maniapoto, Nga Puhi and Pakeha. Police wanted to charge 12 people under the Terrorism Suppression Act (TSA), however the Solicitor-General denied the police permission to proceed. After four weeks in jail everyone was released on bail. On Tuesday, February 19th 2007, police raided further properties, arresting 3 more men. All were released on bail with strict conditions that same day.
19 people are facing charges under the Arms Act, in a trial that could take several years. Although out of jail, they have very strict bail conditions that deny them freedom of movement and association.
:: UPCOMING EVENTS
1. Organise against Labour Party Congress (Meeting, 18th March, Weelington)
2. Fundraising Concert (5th April, Wellington)
3. Public Meeting (8th April, Wellington)
4. Fundraising Concert (10th April, Christchurch)
5. GPJA monthly forum (7th April, Auckland)
1. Organise against Labour Party Congress (Meeting, 18th March, Weelington)
Kia ora
This is an invitation to next week's October 15th organising meeting. This meeting will be SPECIFICALLY dedicated to organising around the Labour Party conference.
This includes:
1. a public meeting on 8 April, and
2. action/information for the Labour Party conference on 11-13 April in Wellington.
We would love to have your input into this...so please come along.
WHERE: 128 Community house, 128 Abel Smith Street
WHEN: Tuesday 18 March, 7pm-9pm
2. Fundraising Concernt (5th April, Wellington)
Afternoon gig at 'The Adelaide', 114 Adelaide Road, Newtown. With the Klezmer Rebs, Emma Paki and other bands (tbc)
3. Public Meeting (8th April, Wellington)
“Police raids, terrorism and the Labour Party conference” - Arlington Hall, 6 pm.
The NZ Labour Party will be having its annual conference in Wellington on 11. - 13. April. You are invited to a public meeting to discuss how the Labour Party has been responsible for committing acts of terrorism against the people of Tuhoe, responsible for passing a raft of US terrorism legislation, and increasing the powers of the SIS and Police to invade your life.
4. Fundraising Concert (10th April, Christchurch)
Al's Bar - 31 Dundas St (off Colombo St) (tbc)
5. GPJA monthly Forum (7th April, Auckland)
147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn. 7.30pm
Special Forum to update on the campaign to repeal the anti-terror laws. Details of panellists to follow.
:: DONATIONS
If you would like to make a donation, check out http://www.october15thsolidarity.info/donate for details of the various funds.
:: ARTICLES
1. One Operation 8 accused stays in Tauranga
2. Greetings to the >October 15th Solidarity< group in Aotearoa (New Zealand)
3. Justice Delayed is Justice Denied
1. One Operation 8 accused stays in Tauranga (from http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/75063/index.php)
Raunatiri Hunt, who was arrested on 19 February 2008 as part of Operation 8, will not have to attend the deposition hearing in Auckland in September with his 18 co-accused. His lawyer, Nicholas Dutch, conceded there was a prima facie case to answer but said all of the evidence against Hunt could be dealt with by a depositions hearing in Tauranga.
Crown prosecutor Rob Ronayne told the judge in a pre-deposition hearing on 12 March 2008, he understood that depositions evidence against Hunt - from 13 police witnesses - would all be handed up in written briefs. Ronayne said he still opposed Hunt's case staying in Tauranga - as he did in a previous pre-depositions hearing - but made no further submissions on the issue.
"[There s] obvious prejudice to Mr Hunt if he has to sit there [in Auckland] for two months as well" said Dutch. Judge Thomas Ingram agreed, saying: "In my view, it would be contrary to the interests of justice to remove him to Auckland for a lengthy hearing when the matter can be dealt with expeditiously with a short hearing in Tauranga."
The crown prosecutor stated it was possible the Crown would make a fresh application to transfer the case after depositions. Hunt's depositions hearing was set for May 29 in the Tauranga District Court and he was remanded on continued bail.
2. Greetings to the >October 15th Solidarity< group in Aotearoa (New Zealand)
Dear friends, dear comrades,
We (www.maus-bremen.de) have heard about the political attacks against you and we are closely following the situation in Aotearoa and in particular your situation.
We were very pleased to receive your greeting message for the demonstration against repression and capitalism on 15 December 2007 in Hamburg. The message was read out at the rally preceding the demonstration and was received with much solidarity and applause.
We are wokers at a free institute, which has been affected on numerous occasions by state repression in recent years: in the context of the resistance against atomic waste transports and against atomic energy production or more recently in the context of the resistance against the G8- summit in Heilgendamm. On 9 May 2007 our offices and the flat of a coworker were raided and material seized and only a few days ago, after over 10 months, returned. The Section 129a accusations ( for participating in a terrorist group) has been dropped but the case is still ongoing on a different level.
We agree with you that this repression in Aotearoa or in the FRG cannot be understood in isolation. World-wide conditions are created, in order to be able to execute the neo-liberalisation of social conditions and capitalist globalisation unimpaired. Meanwhile, each emancipatory idea and practice toward
self-determination, solidarity and liberation are suppressed, communication destroyed, the monitoring and control of all humans is perfected and the individualisation of humans is advanced.
Terrorism is an effective public accusation.
We see the repression against you and your resistance in this context.
We should fight against this development by global solidarity of all oppressed and exploited of this world. And we are delighted that the first contacts in this direction between us have been made.
We greet you and embrace you in solidarity and wish you much strength,
the workers of the ' Meßstelle für Arbeits- und UmweltSchutz Bremen'
www.MAUSBremen.de
Bremen, 06.03.08
3. Justice Delayed is Justice Denied (from http://www.maoriparty.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1627...)
The prospect of nineteen defendants facing another six months under bail restrictions, before a decision is even made as whether they should face trial,
foreshadows a serious miscarriage of justice, says Te Ururoa Flavell.
"These people are innocent until proven guilty. They deny the charges against them. They have been on bail almost five months already, and the depositions hearing is still six months away.
"That first hearing might well show there is no case to answer - otherwise a date will be set for the trial some time in the future. Meanwhile, every day, they live with charges hanging over their heads, affecting their families, their work, their communities. It is completely unjust to have to wait so long.
"Applications for legal aid lodged more than four months ago are still being processed by the Legal Services Agency" said Mr Flavell. Although Auckland District Court Judge Hubble directed the agency to make a decision about funding in the next two weeks, waiting around over all of this time will obviously take its toll on the defendants and their families".
"This is trial by duress. If it takes a year to decide whether there is even a case to answer, one can only guess how long it might take to find them innocent or guilty," he said. "Meanwhile they are restricted in their movements and who they can associate with.
"The depositions hearing alone is forecast to last up to six weeks. The nineteen defendants have to attend court in Auckland - even though many of them live in the Bay of Plenty or other parts of the country. The cost and disruption for them and their families are quite intolerable.
"The Crown has swamped the judicial process with masses of evidence,most of which is likely be completely irrelevant, like bugged phone conversations on unrelated matters. But all of the more than 60,000 pages of information have to be sifted and assessed before it can be ignored.
"The time and effort, and the cost of lawyers, is out of all proportion to the seriousness of the charges. This is shaping up to be one of the biggest trials in New Zealand's history - yet no-one was hurt and no property was damaged.
"It is a political show trial, staged by the police and the Crown to salvage their reputation after their terrorism case collapsed. They are using these cases to try and justify their years of surveillance and monitoring.
"The injustice is that the Crown side is paid to work on the case - the defendants have to pay their own travel, accommodation and phone costs, and significant legal costs, even if they get legal aid. And the longer things drag on, the greater the injustice" said Mr Flavell.
:: LINKS
www.October15thSolidarity.info | www.indymedia.org.nz | www.tuhoe.net | www.gpja.org.nz | www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz