Blood Offering Links GCSB to Drone Killings
Press Release: Drone Assassination Awareness Week
3 March 2017
At lunchtime today, 7 people poured their blood on the ground at the entrance to the Government Communications Security
Bureau (GCSB) in Thorndon, Wellington.
This action was the culmination of Drone Assassination Awareness Week, during which a group have been fasting and
praying for the civilian victims of US military drone strikes. The seven people placed pictures of drone strike victims
on the floor of the GCSB, poured their own blood out, and prayed for those victims, and the staff of the GCSB who are
helping the US drone programme.
"We know two things: one, that the US drone strikes have killed thousands of civilians in muslim-majority countries, and
two, that the GCSB, as an active partner in the 5 Eyes global surveillance network is contributing signals intelligence
to the US, which can be used to support the US killer drone programme. In other words, our defence force is part of the
kill chain which makes up the drone assassination programme. Assassination is outside our domestic laws, defence policy,
and international law. The GCSB has assured us that they operate within NZ policies and laws, but won't reveal any of
their operational details. The last time the GCSB assured us that their secret activity was lawful, they lied: they were
spying on NZ citizens while denying it at the same time. Their credibility is very low." Says spokesperson Adrian
Leason.
"When military drones shoot hellfire missiles at families in their garden, we are moved to pray for them, and to act in
their defence. We are inspired by Pope Francis, who says that violence is not the cure for a broken world. He is urging
all of us to pursue peace more urgently, by non-violent means."
"Our action today - giving our blood to the GCSB - is as act of propitiation to the powerful who take life. If the GCSB
want to take muslim blood, we say: 'take our blood instead'."
"We demand a full review of NZ's contribution to the 5-Eyes network, and the support that we may be giving to the drone
assassination programme. We also ask that the GCSB make public all their files from 1987 to 2007. We appreciate the need
for operational secrecy, so they can keep the last ten years up to the present under wraps. But scrutiny of their
historic files cannot compromise their current operations."
"If the GCSB have done nothing wrong, then they have nothing to fear in releasing their historic files."
"During the week of fasting and vigil-ling we have received amazing support from our parishes, supporters, and members
of the public. Kiwis are horrified to learn that our defence force could be contributing to the evil that is drone
assassinations." Says Mr Leason.
ends