Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Waihopai Spybase Protest January 2006

13 January 2006

Waihopai Spybase Protest End NZ Involvement In US Wars

People from all around New Zealand will be converging on Blenheim and the super-secret Waihopai satellite interception spybase, in Marlborough, on the weekend of January 20-22. The tragic quagmire that is the illegal American-led occupation of Iraq drags on with no end in sight.

The Anti-Bases Campaign (ABC) points out that Waihopai is New Zealand's most important contribution to the American war machine. Our demand hasn't changed since the base was first announced, in the late 1980s - Waihopai is not in the public interest and it must be closed. (For details on Waihopai and what it does, go to our Website www.converge.org.nz/abc).

The theme of our activities, both at the spybase and in Blenheim, will be anti-war. The Bush Administration has pronounced Intelligence to be the key component of all the wars that it is fighting, or planning to fight, throughout the world. Thus, much more so than any token military commitment, the Waihopai spybase is NZ's key contribution to these US wars. In Afghanistan, the total dependence on electronic intelligence has led to "errors" and the deaths of numerous civilians, including children. Waihopai is part of that spying system, meaning that NZ has their blood on our hands. To symbolise that, our props will include crosses, coffins and masks.

Anti-war activity will commence in Blenheim at SEYMOUR SQUARE, 11 a.m, Saturday, January 21. Activities in the Square and other places in central Blenheim will be followed by a visit to the Waihopai spybase itself at 2 p.m. Information will be provided on the function of the base and there will be a peaceful protest, calling for its closure. Speakers, either in Blenheim and/or the spybase, will be: Jeanette Fitzsimons, Green Party Leader; Keith Locke, Green MP; John Minto, of Global Peace and Justice Auckland; and Murray Horton of ABC.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

The weekend's activities are dedicated to the memory of the late Green Party Co-Leader, Rod Donald, who had campaigned tirelessly against the spybase for the whole time that he'd been an MP. After his tragic death, we received a posthumous message that he had planned to join us again this time. To mark the occasion, the Green Party is holding a day of activities to honour Rod's memory, on Sunday January 22, at our campsite (the DOC camp at Onamalutu). For details contact, Christine Dann, christine.dann@clear.net.nz.

Waihopai does not operate in the national interests of New Zealand or our neigh-bours. Basically it is a foreign spybase on NZ soil, paid for with our tax dollars, and directly involves us in America's wars. Waihopai must be closed.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.