The National Government is aiming to turn peace activists into terrorists with the new Maritime Crimes Act.
Doug Robertson, a member of the Peace Squadron, a group that took to the seas to protest against nuclear weapons in the 1980s, says the National Government has gone too far in saying that getting in front of a warship is terrorism.
“I am really concerned that the kind of non-violent peace flotillas we did back in the 1980s could garner someone a terrorism sentence. People across Aotearoa New Zealand rightfully celebrate our nuclear-free status – that would never have happened without the peace flotillas getting in the way of nuclear armed warships.”
The wording in the current Maritime Crimes Bill was far too broad and could easily end up classifying legitimate protests and industrial action as terrorism.
“Civil disobedience is essential to democracy. A US warship is coming to New Zealand for the first time in 32 years this November, and we have every right to protest against that. We are a country of sailors and people who love the sea – so it is only natural that it is an arena for political expression. The government’s suggestion that a repeat of the 1980s peace flotillas would be terrorism shows that the National Party is willing to strip away our most basic human rights so a US warship can come into Auckland unchallenged.”
Parliament’s Defence and Foreign Affairs select committee is currently considering the Bill.
Brick by brick NACT and their masters will build a wall between democracy and a draconian Govt ruling for the rich and transnational investor state, which is not a new phenomena.
The 0.1% colonisation of NZ and the world is done by laws designed to work against the masses and for the elite. Any form of social justice is under attack as are social services and potential loss of opportunity to strip out wealth either from the environment of state economy.
Protest will be redefined and penalties will grow until bullets will be the thank you for protesters trying to protect their country.
Protesters are the warriors for peace, environment, social justice and a more sustainable world. The protectors of our world for the next generation. The friction to slow the slide into social and environmental chaos.
0.1% Capitalism is directly opposed to all such protest and is the perpetrator of dismantling peace, environmental health and social equity.
John Key is unhealthy for NZ and the world, yet will not be brought to account as the system of laws is designed to protect the likes of such treasonous parasites.
All this anti-terror legislation, and no terrorist acts to use it against, so it’s used against ordinary people and non-terrorists. The Urerewa Raids, the 1080 infant formula threats, all normal kiwis searched and surveiled in secret and considered terrorists before proven guilty or innocent.
There’s no reason for these draconian laws, apart from some existential threat created by our so called allies. Until a real threat can be proven, this is just an ugly trend of rights erosion.
John Key has no intentions of listening to the people, respecting their rights, and abiding by any existing laws, other than his own.
Key won’t inform the public of his knowing whether this warship is nuclear armed and propelled, he would rather lie about it until he’s caught out, and even then Key would turn the tide by shifting the blame of responsibility on to the protestors.
Should Key lie about the armament and propulsion of any such warship entering our territorial waters, he has breached the nuclear free zone treaty, along with withholding information the public are entitled to know.
Some facts Key needs to familiarize himself with, before he changes laws to suit himself:
I.21 New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990
Democratic and Civil Rights
14. Freedom of expression
Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form.
16. Freedom of peaceful assembly
Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.
17. Freedom of association
Everyone has the right to freedom of association.
18. Freedom of movement
(1) Everyone lawfully in New Zealand has the right to freedom of movement and residence in New Zealand.
(2) Every New Zealand citizen has the right to enter New Zealand.
(3) Everyone has the right to leave New Zealand.
(4) No one who is not a New Zealand citizen and who is lawfully in New Zealand shall be required to leave New Zealand except under a decision taken on the grounds prescribed by the law.
VIII.8 New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987
4. New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone
There is hereby established the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, which shall comprise:
(a) All of the land, territory, and inland waters within the territorial limits of New Zealand; and
(b) The internal waters of New Zealand; and
(c) The territorial sea of New Zealand; and
(d) The airspace above the areas specified in paragraphs (a) to (c) of this section.
Prohibitions in Relation to Nuclear Explosive Devices and Biological Weapons
9. Entry into internal waters of New Zealand
(1) When the Prime Minister is considering whether to grant approval to the entry of foreign warships into the internal waters of New Zealand, the Prime Minister shall have regard to all relevant information and advice that may be available to the Prime Minister including information and advice concerning the strategic and security interests of New Zealand.
(2) The Prime Minister may only grant approval for the entry into the internal waters of New Zealand by foreign warships if the Prime Minister is satisfied that the warships will not be carrying any nuclear explosive device upon their entry into the internal waters of New Zealand.
11. Visits by nuclear powered ships
Entry into the internal waters of New Zealand by any ship whose propulsion is wholly or partly dependent on nuclear power is prohibited.
There is also the VIII.51 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), with its Preamble and 30 Articles that cover our human rights, along with VIII.54 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), and its many Articles to read, in recognition and accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, along with being in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
So John Phillip Key, take five steps back, take five minutes to think logically, then sit down with as many legal representatives not connected to you by any means, and sit and read the above mentioned documents. You might learn something, as long as the shock isn’t too harsh on your way of operational thinking.
I hope I’ve embarrassed you John Key, through my research as a common working class citizen, in finding out such important facts that you and your government has neglected to look into yourselves.
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