Press Release
CAFCA

Second Court Case Arising From SIS Break-in At Aziz Choudry's Home

In 1996, agents of the NZ Security Intelligence Service were caught in the act of breaking into the Christchurch home of GATT Watchdog activist, Aziz Choudry, during activities opposing an APEC Ministerial Meeting in Christchurch. Aziz sued the Government for damages.

In 1999, after a lengthy legal and political saga, the Government settled the case out of court for an undisclosed amount and apologised to Aziz (after having changed the law to legalise, including retrospectively, all SIS break-ins).

The man who caught the agents and took their vehicle's registration number, which identified them as SIS, is Dr. David Small, a University of Canterbury lecturer and political activist.

Only days after catching the agents, David's home was raided by police looking for "bombmaking materials" (Aziz's home was likewise raided by the cops). Needless to say, nothing was ever found and nobody was ever charged with anything. These raids apparently arose from a still unexplained, very realistic fake bomb left at the Christchurch City Council building (the City Council had removed GATT Watchdog's previously approved anti-APEC window display from its building).

David Small also sued the Government, specifically the Police, for damages.

THE CASE COMES UP IN THE CHRISTCHURCH HIGH COURT, AT 10 A.M, MONDAY APRIL 17.

This is not a preliminary hearing, nor one concerned with legal technicalities. This is the case proper. Two days have been set for the hearing, which will cross examine witnesses, etc, etc. David is representing himself.

This case will shed light on police surveillance of political activists, and on the working relationship between the police and the SIS.

IT IS A HIGHLY IMPORTANT CASE, BOTH LEGALLY AND POLITICALLY.

CAFCA Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa PO Box 2258, Christchurch email: cafca@chch.planet.org.nz

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