Expanded anti-terror squad to silence dissent

Media Release: Expanded anti-terror squad to silence dissent
From: Justice NOW! Collective
Date: 17 March 2009

"It has been reported that the Army is seeking to expand the Counter Terrorist Tactical Assault Group (CTTAG) based on what they say is 'a surge in the global war on terrorism'. Yet what they really want is more soldiers for internal 'terrorism threats'. What are these internal threats? These units have been and will continue to exist to crush domestic political dissent as demonstrated by the police Operation 8 of October 15th 2007" said Justice NOW! Spokeswoman Sally Darity.

"Police Commissioner Howard Broad is accountable for the operational response to threats to national security. Yet he freely admitted on the day of the nationwide State Terror Raids that there was no immediate threat. Following the raids, the Solicitor-General David Collins agreed; charges under the Terrorism Suppression Act were dismissed outright due to lack of evidence."

'The police used paramilitary squads to invade and lock down the community of Ruatoki, pointing guns at children, violating people's rights and literally terrorising the entire community. The CTTG is a bunch of terrorists."

"The 2010 Olympic games in Vancouver Canada are cited as an example of a large 'terrorism threat'. In reality, the threat to the Olympics is not from terrorists, it is from ordinary Canadians concerned about the dramatic impacts of the games. There is widespread public opposition to the Olympic Games for a variety of reasons - including the destruction of the environment, the expansion of sport tourism and resource extraction on indigenous lands, the gentrification of poor neighborhoods, and the privatisation of public services and ballooning public debt. These are hardly terrorist ideas."

"Political activists are being targeted as the economy goes down the gurgler. Those with power do not want to be challenged; they want to maintain their positions of privilege and control. They will use whatever means are necessary including spying, infiltration of community groups, unions and political parties, and will not stop at the use of terrorist violence if necessary."

"The only terrorists in this country are in the Beehive and the boardrooms. They created the 'war on terrorism' as a way to sow fear, expand the police and military, and consolidate their power. There is no negotiation with terrorists like these. There is but one solution: revolution."

ENDS