GLOBALPEACE&JUSTICE AUCKLAND
Private Bag 68905, Newton,Auckland. www.gpja.org.nz

19 October 2007

Media Release:
Rally In Opposition To Threat Of Terror Charges

Supporters of those arrested in para-military police raids this week will gather at 12noon tomorrow (Saturday) in Aotea Square to demand the police abandon the threat of anti-terror charges. Speakers from a range of groups will address the gathering and we will be calling for -

• No terror charges


• Immediate bail for all arrestees (innocent until proven guilty)


• Government to withdraw the Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill


• Defence of our civil rights

SIS involvement
There was no surprise to learn today that the SIS was involved in the gathering of "intelligence" against those arrested this week. It seems clear the quality of the information matches that which the SIS produced against Ahmed Zaoui. This is an organisation living in its own dream.

The SIS has struggled to justify its existence for many years. It failed to prevent New Zealand's only terrorist attack (the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior by French government agents) and has botched every attempt since, the latest being the Zaoui case. It has now colluded with the police in this week's Urewera farce.

Name Suppression
We understand the personal situations which have led to name suppression being sought by most defendants. They have been put in an impossible situation by the police's dramatic over-reaction this week. Unfortunately this prevents the public seeing and understanding that those arrested are a group of decent New Zealanders and not the terrorists the SIS would have us believe.

Opposition grows to Anti-terror legislation
We are delighted that despite the para-military police operation this week public opposition to the Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill which was due in parliament this week, has been growing. The Council of Trade Unions this week called for it to be abandoned along with a raft of human rights and peace groups. The Auckland Council for Civil Liberties has organised a seminar on Thursday next week to examine the bill and the grave threat it poses to our civil liberties (See yesterday's GPJA media release)

ENDS

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