------------#205: SAT OCT 27 CIVIL RIGHTS NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION------------
GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER #205, October 23, 2007
Website [ http://www.gpja.org.nz/]
Dear friends,
The GPJA newsletter will be focussing on the campaign against the use of the Terrorism Suppression Act and in defence of
the arrested activists over the coming months. That means we will be featuring news links, and have a listing of
protests, meetings, fundraising events from all over New Zealand. The Auckland “What’s On” and the Best of the Web links
will be at the end of the newsletter.
Please send information about activities outside of Auckland that should be including in this newsletter to
[mike@unite.org.nz]
Please forward this newsletter to anyone you think may be interested and tell them they can subscribe at [ http://gpja.org.nz/]
EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY
Next meeting of the Auckland Civil Rights Defence Committee, 6pm, Tuesday, October 30, Unite House, Level 12, 300 Queen
St
CIVIL RIGHTS DEFENCE - - NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION PLANNED FOR NEXT SATURDAY (27TH OCTOBER) -
Next Saturday (27th October) will see nationwide action taken in support of those arrested in para-military raids last
week. The national day of action will include a Civil Rights Defence rally and march from 12noon at Auckland’s Aotea
Square. The rally will be calling for -
• No terror charges
• Immediate bail for all arrestees (innocent until proven guilty)
• Withdraw the Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill A website has been set up to help co-ordinate support for those
arrested. People can find out about support activities, make donations to the campaign and send messages of support to
the detainees through the website. www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz [http://www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz]
POSTERS FOR AUCKLAND MARCH CAN BE PICKED UP FROM
Simon, NDU Office, 20 Church St, Onehunga
Mike, Unite House, Level 12, 300 Queen St, Auckland City
Or download Auckland or national poster from
MAKE A DONATION TO A DEFENCE FUND ONLINE
38-9000-0099726-00 GLOBAL PEACE & JUSTICE AKLD
Indentify donation as being for the defence fund. Initial patrons of the fund are Jane Kelsey, John Minto, Simon
Oosterman and Mike Treen Or Use your credit card through Paypal
SEND A MESSAGE OF SUPPORT TO BE FORWARDED TO PEOPLE IN PRISON
Thursday, October 25, 6 – 7.30pm, Stone Lecture Theatre, 3rd floor, Law Faculty Building, 9 Eden Crescent, Auckland
University INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND SECURITY LEGISLATION - THE CHALLENGES AND RESPONSES. Nicky Hager, researcher,
author of The Hollow Men, will comment on the overall effect of enhanced surveillance on New Zealand society. Tim
McBride, author, barrister and civil libertarian, will examine the enhanced powers given to state agencies in New
Zealand and the implications for privacy. John Ip, AU Faculty of Law lecturer, will talk on enemy combatants and
International Law. Gregory Thwaite, international lawyer, will talk on the justifications given for increased security
legislation. Chairperson: Barry Wilson, President of Auckland Council for Civil Liberties Organised by: Auckland Council
For Civil Liberties; University Of Auckland Faculty Of Law And International Law Association (New Zealand Branch).
SPECIAL GPJA FORUM - MONDAY NOVEMBER 5, 7.30PM, METHODIST CHAPEL, QUEEN ST, OPPOSITE TOWN HALL - DEFENDING CIVIL RIGHTS
- NO USE OF TERROR LAWS.
MEDIA REPORTS GPJA: We agree with Ross Meurant
TV3 - Ross Meurant had a reputation as a police hard man. The kind of cop who cracked down on radicals. [http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/NationalVideo/tabid/309/articleID/37440/Default.aspx#video?articleID=37440]
Ross Muerant radio NZ interview [http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/mnr/further_on_the_story_in_ruatoki]
Raise your voice before you lose your soul - protests across Aotearoa
Hundreds March For "Terror" Accused In Auckland
Cookson & Davies: NZ Post Colonial? Yeah Right
Auckland Rallies for Civil Rights [http://unityaotearoa.blogspot.com/2007/10/auckland-rallies-for-civil-rights.html]
Matt McCarten: Forget terrorists - it's the secret police the public needs to fear
Bill Ralston: Ready for the men in black
CTU Runanga Calls for Police Action to Stop [http://union.org.nz/news/2007/ctu-runanga-calls-for-police-action-to-stop ]
Liz Gordon: None safe from act's reach - The police and other intelligence agencies are going to come under immense
pressure and scrutiny over this week's raids on homes and communities…
Guerrillas in our midst? No! By RAWIRI TAONUI - Sunday Star Times - The arrests last Monday of Maori and other activists
was a sensationalised over-reaction by a dysfunctional police force, a power-seeking intelligence service and a
government that has lost touch.
“This Average Kiwi Bloke Has Had Enough…” by Aziz Choudry on the 'terror' raids
More commentary on the events of this week is available on the 'NZ "terrorism" in perspective' web page at
NZH Editorial: Confidence in our law put to test [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=1501470=10470968]
Editorial: Whatever cards police hold had better be a winning hand
John Armstrong: Big gamble for police
A brief history of Tuhoe
Q & A: Who are the Tuhoe people?
The accidental terrorist - Tame Iti's story
Raids a case of 'deja vu'
Guerillas in the mist
John Roughan: Camp Urewera - blame the climate of the times
Paul Moon: Challenge is to bridge divide between two New Zealand
Fran O'Sullivan: Terror Act: more 1984 than 1969
Balaclava-clad footsoldiers 'terrifying'
Tears As Friends Locked Up & Sent To Auckland
Seven Auckland "Terror" Accused Remain In Custody - Joseph Barratt - The Police will spend the next week compiling
evidence against seven alleged "terrorist training camp" attendees who today appeared in court in Auckland.
Protest NZ's Bid For UN Human Rights Council - Montreal Maori Solidarity Committee
MONTREAL, OCCUPIED KANIEN'KEHA:KA TERRITORY: Solidarity with Imprisoned Activists
TERRORISM LAW CTU Calls for Repeal of Terrorism Act
CTU Submission on the Terrorism Supression Bill 2001 [http://union.org.nz/policy/ctu-submission-on-the-terrorism-supression-bill-2001]
CTU submission on the Counter-Terrorism Bill
ANNOUNCEMENTS
WALK THE WALK To bring awareness to Solid energies plans to turn Happy Valley, an area near Westport and home of some of
our rarest and treasured wildlife, into an open cast coal mine a walk is being organised from Auckland to Happy Valley
from the 28th of January 2008. To get involved in this walk or to find out more about the project please visit
Before we start walking however we need to work out the route the group will be taking down the country, and to do this
we are trying to get a thorough idea of what and who is out there between Auckland and Westport with resources that will
be helpful to us, and who will, in return, find useful the resources we have to offer. Therefore would you have
information on how we could get in contact with the following? Groups that are involved with coal, climate or green
issues in general that are based somewhere between Auckland and Westport.
Places in between Auckland and Westport that could help accommodate any of us for a night or three in exchange for
labour or goods. Places in between Auckland and Westport which could employ any of us for a day or two or just a couple
of hours.
Also being planned out is how we should connect with local people when we roll into each town along the journey in
order to best provoke discussion about issues of coal mining, climate change and the like. Namely will people be most
receptive to info about coal mining in nz, or, more broadly, to info on climate change around the world? Will they want
to hear local or national strategies on how to deal with these issues, or should we just focus our energies on just
listening to what strategies they may have? Should we hold street side stalls, or community workshops or meetings in
town halls? What are your thoughts on this? Contact: Heather Simpson - [walk.d.walk@gmail.com] And check out –
www.walkingthewalk.org.nz [http://www.walkingthewalk.org.nz] Or www.savehappyvalley.org.nz [http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz]
NEW JOURNAL OF THEORY, COMMENT & CULTURE
- at the Latin America & Asia Pacific International Solidarity Forum CLASS (Commmittee for Latin American Solidarity and Studies) organised a
very successful meeting of Australian and overseas participants interested in establishing a new journal of theory,
comment & culture. The meeting decided to launch a new journal aimed at bringing to our Asia-Pacific region some of the
theoretical debate and revival of theory now taking place in Latin American movements and left organisations. The
journal will be published in English.The journal will be organised around an editorial collective. If you are interested
in participating in this project or receving more information, please contact [kirsty@unite.org.nz]
RADIOVENCEREMOS.ORG
RadioVenceremos (RV) is a new online radio project involving the Centre for Latin America Solidarity & Studies (CLASS) and the Adelaide branch of the Australian Venezuela Solidarity Network. RV will aim to provide weekly
updates on Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia and all the struggles and community organising increasingly taking place in
Latin America. RV is an English language online radio that aims to produce regular radio shows, special reports and
radio documentaries, as well as video, including English subtitled versions of Alo Presidente, the regular TV program of
Hugo Chavez. To contact RV email [production@radiovenceremos.org] For more information please contact
[info@latinamericasolidarity.org] or visit www.latinamericasolidarity.org [http://www.latinamericasolidarity.org]
WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST JANUARY 25-27, 2008
The public face of New Zealand’s role as an American ally is the NZ military presence in Afghanistan. But New Zealand’s
most significant contribution to that, and other American wars, including the one in Iraq, is the Waihopai spybase.
Waihopai is controlled by the US, with New Zealand (including Parliament and the Prime Minister) having little or no
idea what goes on there (let alone any control).
The Waihopai electronic intelligence gathering base is located in the Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim. First announced
in 1987, it is operated by New Zealand’s Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) in the interests of the
foreign Powers grouped together in the super-secret UKUSA Agreement (which shares global electronic and signals
intelligence among the intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ). Its two satellite interception
dishes (shielded from public view by giant domes) intercept a huge volume of telephone calls, telexes, faxes, e-mail and
computer data communications. It spies on our Asia/Pacific neighbours, and forwards the material on to the major
partners in the UKUSA Agreement, specifically the US National Security Agency (NSA). Its targets are international
communications involving New Zealanders, including the interception of international phone calls. The codename for this
– Echelon – has become notorious worldwide as the vast scope of its spying has become public. New Zealand is an
integral, albeit junior, part of a global spying network, a network that is ultimately accountable only to its own
constituent agencies, not governments, and certainly not to citizens.
Waihopai does not operate in the interests of New Zealanders or our neighbours. Basically it is a foreign spybase on NZ
soil and directly involves us America’s wars. Waihopai must be closed.
We invite people from around the country to join us for the weekend of anti-war protest at this spybase. Come prepared
for roughing it and camping out. We provide the food (note: we cater for vegetarians but vegans will have to bring their
own). Bring sleeping bag, groundsheet, a tent, torch, water bottle, eating utensils, clothing for all weather, and $40
(or $20 unwaged) to cover costs. Absolutely no open fires.
How to find our camp at Whites Bay: turn off SH1 at Tuamarina (9km north of Blenheim or 20 km south of Picton) and
drive to Rarangi on the coast. Continue on the steep Port Underwood Road which climbs over the hilltop before descending
to the Whites Bay turnoff. There is a Department of Conservation public camp at the bay with basic facilities. ABC has
to pay a fixed charge per person.
To register send $40 ($20 unwaged) to the Anti-Bases Campaign, P.O. Box 2258, Christchurch. Make all cheques to ABC.
E-mail [cafca@chch.planet.org.nz] www.converge.org.nz/abc [http://www.converge.org.nz/abc]
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE THE ROGER AWARD
Nominations are now open for this most prestigious and keenly contested annual Award (won by Progressive Enterprises in
2006; the previous winners are: Westpac/BNZ, Telecom, Juken Nissho, Carter Holt Harvey, TransAlta Monsanto and TranzRail
– 3 times). Nominations close on October 31.
VISIT CUBA THIS SUMMER
Cuba consistently makes the news: whether it is it’s health care system (see Salud or Sicko), its response to its oil
crisis, its environmental programmes, or by remaining a political opponent of US imperialism for forty years. It is also
the home of salsa and its music is world renowned. Registrations are open for the 25th Southern Cross Brigade to Cuba.
Members of the Brigade, which is made up of Australians and New Zealanders, spend approximately four weeks in Cuba,
leaving 27th December and returning 24th January. The all up cost is $5500, including airfare, spending money and all
accommodation and meals. Members of the Brigade often stay longer in Cuba as private travelers or move onto other
countries in the region. For further enquiries and registration e- mail Ina at [inashina@clear.net.nz] or Paul at
[wkcultur@ihug.co.nz] (03 732 4010).
WHAT’S ON IN AUCKLAND
Wednesday, October 24, 7pm, Conference Centre, 22 Symonds St, Auckland University UNANZ NORTHERN REGION BRANCH - NZIIA
(Auckland) - Public Talk on Securing our Survival –The Case for a Nuclear Weapons Convention. Refreshments will be
available at 6:30pm. Keynote Speakers: Hon. Dr. Nick Smith MP – Chair of the New Zealand Section of the Parliamentary
Network for Nuclear Disarmament; Matt Robson – former Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control Aotearoa; Lawyers for
Peace; Megan Hutching – Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom, WILPF National President. EVERYONE WELCOME.
For more information contact Claire Gregory 638 8662 Or Laurie Ross on 811 8696 [laurie-ross@xtra.co.nz]
Wednesday, October 31, 7.30pm, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn HIDDEN VOICES - A Filipino Muslim Woman On
The US “War On Terror” And Its Impact On Her People. Amirah Ali Lidasan is the National Vice-Chairperson of the Suara
Bangsamoro Party List Organisation, which aims to get representation in Congress for the Philippines’ several million
Muslims (known as Moros and heavily concentrated in the southernmost islands). Amirah is a young progressive Muslim
woman, with a history of senior leadership in the student movement in Manila, and is a leader in groups such as the Moro
Christian People’s Alliance. She has an international profile. In March 2007 she was part of a Philippine human rights
delegation which toured North America and Europe, drawing international attention to the human rights crisis at home.
Contact: Helen Te Hira, ph (09) 3039018; 021 0554969; e-mail:
[helent@nzctu.org.nz]
Saturday, October 27, 9.30am-3pm, Otago University Centre, 385 Queen Street, Auckland City You are warmly invited to
attend our PEACE SYMPOSIUM – Organised by Aotearoa New Zealand Peace and Conflict Studies Centre Trust. Opening by Sir
Paul Reeves.
Session One. Living Peace Covenants: How can the indigenous peace movements of the Moriori and Parihaka contribute to
conflict resolution in the world today?
Presentations by Maui Solomon of Hokotehi Moriori Trust “The Moriori Peace Covenant” and Ruakere Hond from Parihaka
“Parihaka: in search of peace”.
Session Two. Challenges Posed by Military Aggression: Presentations and panel with Arthur Palmer, George Armstrong,
Maire Leadbeater and Edwina Hughes.
Session Three. Potential for Peace Teaching: Presentations and panel with Shareen Shah.
Yvonne Duncan and the students of Mt Roskill Grammar School will present on “The Contribution of New Zealand Youth to
the Greatest Challenge of the 21st Century – Conflict Resolution“.
Session Four. Growing a Field of Peace – Interfaith Peacebuilding: How can the different faiths work together in
practical peace building? Presentation and panel with Ali Jiang, Tipene Daniels and Greg Hughson.
The purpose of this Symposium is to develop the relationship between existing peace groups and the new National Peace
and Conflict Studies Centre and to explore how the Centre’s research may assist with peaceful resolution of conflicts in
the world today. Registration.
As space is limited please register early. Email Registration by October 24 to
[anzpcsc@ihug.co.nz] Phone Enquiries to 09 815 0228 Admission by Koha. A simple lunch will be provided. Peace Past –
Peace Future
Friday, November 9, 6.30pm (5.30pm bar), Maidment Theatre, Auckland University 2007 BRUCE JESSON LECTURE: Laila Harre,
National Secretary National Distribution Union: “Union relevance in Aotearoa in the 21st Century”. For 20 years unions
have been engaged in a struggle for relevance - relevance to both workers and the wider social and economic environment
in which we organise.
This lecture will look at possible futures for the union movement and the potential and need for workers to organise
industrially and politically. More than ever we are dependent on what happens at work and what we get from doing it. The
question is not whether we need unions, but what sort of unions we need. A collection for donations to the Bruce Jesson
Trust will be taken. Sponsored by the Faculty of Arts and The Bruce Jesson Foundation
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reason to think that, from the Bush-Cheney perspective, it is none of these things. Indeed, the US may be ‘stuck’
precisely where Bush et al want it to be, which is why there is no ‘exit strategy’.
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Our 21st Century Zimmerwald
ENDS