#204: Civil Right Protest 12 noon Sat, Aotea Square

Submitted by gpja on Fri, 10/19/2007 - 01:37.

GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER #204, October 19, 2007

Website http://www.gpja.org.nz/ Contact details: Forums – John Minto, Work: (09) 845 2132, Home 09 846 3173 jbminto@xtra.co.nz; Newsletter Editor – Mike Treen 0295254744 / 09 845 4027 mike@unite.org.nz; Web page - media@ndu.org.nz Donations can be sent to GPJA, P O Box 7175, Welesley St, Auckland. To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter visit http://www.gpja.org/ or click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this email.

Dear friends,

Over 100 people attended an emergency meeting called by GPJA over the arrests of political activists and the threatened use of the undemocratic terrorism laws against them. It was agreed to oppose the use of these laws, call for the release on bail of the defendants before any trial, help raise money to provide help assure legal support is available.

We also called on supporters of civil rights across the country to support a national day of action on Saturday October 27. The next GPJA forum will be focussed on the issues raised as well.

EMERGENCY PROTEST THIS SAT (OCT 20) 12 NOON AOTEA SQUARE
- DEFEND CIVIL RIGHTS
- NO USE OF TERROR LAWS
- RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL
- FREE THE DEFENDANTS – INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY

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

NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST - SAT OCTOBER 27 - 12 NOON AOTEA SQUARE

SPECIAL GPJA FORUM - MONDAY NOVEMBER 5, 7.30PM, METHODIST CHAPEL, QUEEN ST, OPPOSITE TOWN HALL - DEFENDING CIVIL RIGHTS - NO USE OF TERROR LAWS.

GPJA MESSAGE
Everyone will be aware that 17 activists were arrested on Monday in police raids around the country. They have been charged with various beaches of the gun laws but the police have raised the spectre of them also facing anti-terrorism charges later. Most have had names suppressed but will be coming back to court this Friday when more information will become public.

All of the people are known directly or indirectly to people close to GPJA and we have been helping assist getting legal support. We have issued a media release and John Minto has done several interviews along these lines. A copy of the release is here: Terrorism charges trumped up for political impact http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0710/S00221.htm

MEETING: This case has critical importance for all groups associated with GPJA and we are calling a meeting this Thursday evening at 6pm at the Unite Office (Level 12 above the ASB Bank on the corner of Queen and Wellesley Streets). At this meeting we will be briefing everyone on the situation so far, establish a defence committee and decide what further action we can take in this situation. In the meantime people can make donations to support the legal defence of those arrested by donating to the GPJA account online 38-9000-0099726-00 Indentify donation as being for the defence fund. Initial patrons of the fund are Jane Kelsey, John Minto, Simon Oosterman and Mike Treen

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

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.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0706/S00327.htm

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 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

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

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND
Minimum wage must rise to combat child poverty
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0710/S00326.htm
Buchanan: Fear & the Corporatisation of Security
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0710/S00149.htm

REVIEWS
Writing left-handed
http://www.critic.co.nz/about/features/69
Power & the people by Nicky Hager - Chris Trotter understands New Zealand history as a struggle between egalitarian values and private wealth.
http://www.listener.co.nz/issue/3511/artsbooks/9461/power_the_people.htm...

CANADA
Le Devoir reports today that the Crees of James Bay have voted massively in favour of the deal negotiated earlier this year with Ottawa. With some 59% of eligible voters voting (well above the minimum threshold set at 25%), the agreement was adopted by a 90% majority. The next phase of ongoing negotiations, the newspaper reports, will deal with aboriginal self-government. These discussions will be three-way, involving the Quebec government as well. The Crees hope to obtain their own constitution and "system of governance" over their lands, which cover a large part of the northern half of Quebec. Here is a background article, from the Canadian Dimension website:
http://canadiandimension.com/articles/2007/07/17/1219/

HAITI
Haiti Today: Economic and social calamity under UN occupation - On February 29, 2004, the elected president and government of Haiti was overthrown in a coup carried out by the armed forces of the U.S., Canada, France and Chile. The foreign forces delivered the final blow in a rebellion launched one month earlier by a small but well-armed and financed force of Haitian paramilitaries operating with impunity from neighbouring Dominican Republic. Three and a half years later, Haiti, a Caribbean country of eight and a half million inhabitants, is living under a United Nations-sponsored foreign occupation force comprised of 7,100 soldiers and 1,800 police. I visited there in August of this year as part of a human rights investigative delegation. We observed a country living through an unprecedented economic and social calamity. You can read my reports from Haiti at www.thac.ca/blog/9 On that same site, you will find a review written by myself of a recently-published book that gives a blow by blow account of the coup of 2004, http://www.thac.ca/node/74

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