[pf] A citizen's _right_ to protest & make-public their political views.

by David MacClement

12 December 2000 17:50 UTC

· IMO there are more important things than which of two average people
becomes President of the USA.   D.]

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[News release below contains: 
  "This raises real questions about people's rights to freely express their
political beliefs. Police actions against lawful protests during Jiang
Zemin's state visit to New Zealand are a vivid reminder of a deeper malaise
within the force, and show very clearly that it is not politically neutral." 
   In May, GATT Watchdog was one of two dozen groups and individuals which
called on the Justice and Electoral Select Committee for a full and open
select committee inquiry into the role of the Criminal Intelligence Service
(CIS) of the Police in targetting political organisations and activists.
The Green Party has also backed this call.    D.]

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http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0012/S00054.htm
  is:

Police Actions At Protests Point To Deeper Problem
Tuesday, 12 December 2000, 6:26 pm
Press Release: Gatt Watchdog  

GATT Watchdog PO Box 1905 Christchurch 

12 December 2000


POLICE ACTIONS AT JIANG ZEMIN PROTESTS POINT TO DEEPER PROBLEM

GATT Watchdog is pleased that New Zealand's Justice and Electoral Select
Committee inquiry has strongly criticised the police handling of protests
during the September 1999 state visit of Jiang Zemin. But the group, which
was involved in an education and action campaign against APEC last year,
wants more. 

"The heavy-handed and politically-motivated policing operations around last
year's Jiang Zemin demonstrations are a symptom of a deeper and serious
ongoing problem which needs to be urgently confronted," says GATT Watchdog
spokesperson, Aziz Choudry.

"There is a mindset and operational culture within the Police which
frequently equates challenges to prevailing political and economic
orthodoxies with criminal activity. This raises real questions about
people's rights to freely express their political beliefs. Police actions
against lawful protests during Jiang Zemin's state visit to New Zealand are
a vivid reminder of a deeper malaise within the force, and show very
clearly that it is not politically neutral." 

In May, GATT Watchdog was one of two dozen groups and individuals which
called on the Justice and Electoral Select Committee for a full and open
select committee inquiry into the role of the Criminal Intelligence Service
(CIS) of the Police in targetting political organisations and activists.
The Green Party has also backed this call.

Chair of the Select Committee, Christchurch Central MP Tim Barnett, has
indicated that consideration would be given to holding an inquiry into the
role of the CIS in targetting people on the grounds of their political
beliefs and advocacy, once the inquiry into the policing of the pro-Tibet
demonstrations ended. 

Evidence of CIS surveillance of Aziz Choudry and Canterbury University
lecturer David Small, and CIS cooperation with the Security Intelligence
Service in concealing its botched, illegal break-in at Mr Choudry's home in
July 1996, was heard in the Christchurch High Court earlier this year when
Dr Small successfully sued the Police over an unlawful house search.

"The actions of the Police in relation to the pro-Tibet demonstrations, and
the surveillance and intelligence activities of its Criminal Intelligence
Service directed at political organisations and activists seem in line with
political elements in other police forces elsewhere in the world which
routinely monitor, harass, and attempt to criminalise legitimate political
organisers and activities." 

"These examples show Police operating with a cavalier disregard for the
rights of people to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Now it is
time to call the Police's Criminal Intelligence Service to account for the
exercise of their powers. This is long overdue" 

For further comment, ph Aziz Choudry (025) 6627174 

Copyright (c) Scoop Media

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[contains: "the police took action ... against ... lawful protests" ]

From: Jonathan Hill <jonathan.hill@parliament.govt.nz>
To: Green - Everyone <GreenParty@msmail.poli.govt.nz>
Subject: Select Committee recommendations clarify rights to protest
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2000 17:13:45 +1300

12 December 2000

Select Committee recommendations clarify rights to protest

Green Party MP Nandor Tanczos believes recommendations from a parliamentary
inquiry into the police's handling of protests during the state visit of
the Chinese President last year will help to clarify the rights of
protesters in New Zealand.

The Justice and Electoral Select Committee, of which Mr Tanczos is a
member, today labelled the actions of police as "unjustifiable" in their
handling of demonstrations during President Jiang Zemin's visit during APEC
last year.

"As a protester myself I have often faced police action that infringed my
rights," said Mr Tanczos. "That the police took action in this case against
a number of peaceful, non violent and lawful protests indicates that
clarification is needed to inform the police of their obligations and
limits and to inform protesters of their rights.

Mr Tanczos said a number of the recommendations from the Select Committee
were designed to do exactly that.

"Both police and citizens must understand that there exists a fundamental
right to lawful assembly and expression and these rights must be upheld by
police instead of undermined," he said.

Nandor Tanczos MP: 04 470 6712, 025 246 5235
Jonathan Hill (press secretary): 04 470 6719, 021 440 090

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sent on by David.