Government must sack Solid Energy CEO over corporate spying.

GPJA is calling on the government to have the CEO of Solid Energy, Don Elder, removed from his job over revelations he approved infiltration and spying on the Save Happy Valley conservation group.

The protest group has been involved in legitimate protest activity which is still a right in New Zealand. Instead of respecting that right and the justifiable concerns of many New Zealanders about Solid Energy’s activities, Elder has been subverting them.

This government-owned corporate wants to simultaneously destroy the environment and undermine democratic freedoms.

They have been using taxpayer money to promote anti-democratic private policing.

Elder has made outrageous claims of danger to his staff from protest activities. If these claims had a shred of truth the police would have laid charges. Instead the company simply spouts a handy PR line to try deflect attention from its despicable activity.

Had the protest group bugged or infiltrated the corporate headquarters Elder would be the first on the phone to the police to complain and demand action.

Elder’s style is of arrogant bullying. He has to go.

At the same time the government must reign in the corporation and make it clear that action such as this from either private or public corporations is unacceptable.

John Minto

Spokesperson

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