October 15th Solidarity

On the morning of September 12th, 2001, when New Zealand woke to the terrorist attacks in the United States, I can remember feeling (among other things) tangibly embarrassed when then Deputy Prime Minister, Jim Anderton, said the government had “stepped-up” security around the Beehive (New Zealand’s House of Parliament). I cringed because it seemed so ridiculous, like he was trying to be important. Who would ever attack something in New Zealand?

Updated at 11:00am on 18 November 2008

"Banda criminal" ridículo cargos

31 octubre 2008
Comunicado de prensa: la paz mundial y la justicia Auckland

La policía decisión de presentar cargos de participar en una banda criminal contra de cinco de los detenidos “’Urewera’’ es ridículo. Habiendo fracasado a la marca estos activistas políticos como terroristas, la policía ahora quieren tratar de marca como delincuentes o criminals.

Durante los 19 días de la audiencias preliminaries con respecto a las armas cargos contra 18 personas procedentes del 15 de octubre de 2007 las redadas policiales, las observaciones de un antiguo policía sargento de Nueva Zelanda’s "Brigada Roja" articulado poco después de los acontecimientos repercutido [invadida] en repetidas ocasiones . En el boletín del Mundial de la Paz y la Justicia de Auckland [23-10-07], esas opiniones se resumen como sigue:

Acusación Expedido a Criminalizar la Disidencia de Maorí

La Corona ha emitido una acusación contra 18 personas detenidas en las redadas policiales de 15 de octubre de 2007 en Ruatoki, Auckland, Hamilton, Whakatane, Palmerston North, Wellington y en otros lugares alrededor de Nueva Zelanda.

Cinco de las 18 personas han sido acusadas de participación en una banda criminal en virtud del artículo 98A de la Ley de delitos.

New T-shirts are available to support the people affected in the October 15th raids. Money raised goes to support (such as transport to court, accommodation in Auckland during court appearances, and food) as well as the on-going political work of the October 15th solidarity crew.

• Remember October 15th(with Te Mana Motuhake o Tuhoe flag) Shirts are $20 and available in S,M,L,XL,XXL

31 October 2008
Media Release: Global Peace and Justice Auckland

The police decision to lay charges of participating in a criminal gang against five of the Urewera arrestees is ludicrous. Having failed to brand these activists as terrorists the police now want to try to brand them as criminals.

Updated at 6:36am on 31 October 2008
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2008/10/31/12437ab92859

More serious charges are to be laid against five of the people already due to stand trial after the high profile police raids last year.

Earlier in October, 17 people were committed to stand trial on various charges of illegally possessing firearms, ammunition or explosives.

The Crown says Tame Iti, Tuhoi Lambert, Emily Bailey, Urs Signer and Whiri Kemara have now been charged with participation in a criminal group, which carries a sentence of up to five years imprisonment.

New Zealand Herald
4:00AM Friday Oct 31, 2008
By Elizabeth Binning

Fresh charges are to be laid against some of those seized in the Urewera police raids - more than a year after they were arrested.
Five of the 18 people arrested during the nationwide operation last October are to face new allegations of participating in a criminal gang.

One of the five is Maori activist Tame Iti.

By KIM RUSCOE and BEN FAWKES - The Dominion Post | Friday, 31 October 2008

The Crown is preparing to lay fresh charges against five of the 17 people arrested after anti- terrorism raids in the Bay of Plenty.

Prosecutor Ross Burns said the Crown planned to charge Tame Iti, Tuhoe Lambert, Whiri Kemara, Swiss national Urs Signer and Wellington's Emily Bailey with participating in an organised criminal group. The charge carries a maximum jail term of five years.