State Interference in By-Election

Police continued their interference in the Mt Albert by-election by arresting ALCP candidate Dakta Green for the fourth time in a fortnight. ALCP believe that Police are persecuting Dakta Green because of his political position. ALCP wrote to the NZ Police asking for an explanation for their continued harassment of Dakta Green. No response was forthcoming.

Dakta Green was again arrested at 11pm on Friday night. NORML's Cannabus was entered illegally and Dakta Green was assaulted and shoved to the ground before police identified themselves. Dakta Green was processed for 6 hours before being allowed to rest in the cells. Police have continually tried to oppose bail for Dakta Green. Thankfully the court system and Justices of the Peace have seen Dakta Green for what he is, a political activist not a criminal, and granted him bail.

The ALCP has contested every general election since MMP was introduced. Never before has one of its candidates faced repeated arrest for supporting Cannabis Law Reform. The actions of the Police are nonsensical, arguably unlawful and are deliberate acts of state interference in a political campaign.

"A number of young people who had gathered to hear about the Mt Albert campaign were dragged off the bus and searched on the street. This humiliating treatment of our citizens highlights the ongoing evils of cannabis prohibition," says Dakta Green. "While Police resources were unnecessarily tied up processing me for 6 hours, the Cannabus was broken into and burgled on Queen St"

Given that the police continue to derail the democratic process in New Zealand and refuse to return correspondence to the ALCP, the party is left with no option but to consider legal action. These are serious breaches of state political neutrality and as such the ALCP has made an official complaint to the Minister of Police.

State interference in a by-election is illegal. The ALCP takes this attack on the party very seriously. The ALCP are strongly urging Police to cease and desist the war of attrition against the ALCP least they want to find themselves on the wrong side of the law. It is not illegal to support Cannabis Law Reform or to stand for parliament on such a platform.

Supporters are invited to attend Auckland District Court on Albert St at 10 am on Monday the 11th of May to show solidarity with Dakta Green. The Police Prosecutor is seeking to have Dakta Green's bail revoked resulting in his incarceration until August.

STOP ARRESTING DAKTA GREEN and the thousands of other innocent cannabis users in New Zealand.

ENDS

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