Police Issue Letter To APEC Protest Leaders

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In this latest instalment of the Scoop Inside APEC Series we reveal the letter issued by the New Zealand Police to suspected leaders of Anti-APEC groups and organisations.

Dear ... ...

RE : APEC SERIES OF MEETINGS 1999

The New Zealand Police have an obligation to maintain law and order and to provide protection for Heads of Government, Delegates and other
internationally protected persons as defined by the Crimes (Internationally Protected Persons and Hostages) Act1980 during the APEC series of meetings taking place in New Zealand later this year. This obligation extends to ensuring the unhindered movement of Heads of Government, Delegates and other internationally protected persons.

At the same time, the Police recognise the right of all New Zealanders to
freedom of assembly, freedom of movement and freedom of expression,
including the right to lawful protest. Within the confines of its obligations to maintain law and order and to provide protection as outlined above, the Police wish to facilitate the right to lawful protest during the APEC series of meetings.

If you wish to organise any sort of protest action during the APEC series of meetings, I suggest you contact Tara PRADHAN, Event Facilitation Manager, Auckland City Council (09) 379 2021, or her staff, as soon as possible to discuss your proposed action. They will assist you with the planning of your proposed action. In particular, the Council can issue permits to facilitate your action by closing roads (which are defined as including any square or place intended for use of the public generally) using their powers under Section 342 and Clause I I of the Tenth Schedule to the Local Government Ad 1974.

At the same lime as contacting the Auckland City Council, please contact me (09) 259 0600 extension 90768 to advise me of your proposed action and I will do everything possible to assist you by suggesting possible protest sites and times to avoid clashes with other proposed action.

During the last major international meeting held in Auckland, the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in late1995, several
groups look advantage of permits issued by the Auckland City Council to mount successful protest action. As an example, I enclose for your information, a letter from Mr P A WILLIAMS QC to the Police dated 24 November 1995.

In addition, I understand that some groups wish to have the opportunity to
personally deliver letters to Heads of Government while they are in New
Zealand for the APEC leaders meeting. While ,it will not be possible to
personally deliver letters to Heads of Government themselves for obvious
security reasons, it may be possible to personally deliver letters to
representatives of the Heads of Government. If you wish to do so, I suggest that you contact Ross Bell at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade in Auckland (09) 375 3810, who will contact the Liaison Officers for each of the APEC delegations. If that is not possible, he should in any event be able to pass on any letter you may wish lo bring to the attention of the Head of Government to each APEC delegation.

During the APEC leader’s meeting in Auckland, public access will be restricted to certain areas and dedicated motorcade routes have been allocated. The police will not tolerate unauthorised access to restricted areas, nor the obstruction of motorcade routes and other thoroughfares and footpaths. An outline of the restricted areas, motorcade routes and other road closures is attached. People who attempt to gain access to the restricted areas or obstruct the motorcade routes, thoroughfares or footpaths will be arrested.

The Police intend to use similar policing methods as those employed for
CHOGM. These policing methods were upheld by the District Court in
subsequent prosecutions of those persons arrested. The ultimate objective, however, is to have no arrests during the APEC series of meetings and this should be achieved through co-operation with the Auckland City Council and the Police.

I am keen to talk to you if you wish to organise any sort of protest action.
Please contact me at any time. If I am not available, please leave a message and I shall contact you as soon as possible.
END

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* Scoop's Inside APEC Series: - Stories To Come: An Exclusive Interview With Aziz Choudry - the Police's Responses and Media Releases - APEC Taskforce Releases - and much much more.

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