Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)
After what PSNA calls the shocking TVNZ interview with Minister of Defence Judith Collins on Friday, it has written to the Prime Minister today.
PSNA has requested Luxon direct Collins to withdraw approval for forthcoming Rocket Lab satellite launches for BlackSky Technology from Mahia, which could be used by Israel in Gaza.
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa Co-chair John Minto says Collins ‘can’t be trusted to uphold New Zealanders’ values’.
“She went for any excuse to justify approving the launches, and the Prime Minister must rein her in.”
“She said the UN Security Council does not encourage sanctions, so she believes New Zealand has a free hand to be militarily complicit in Israel’s resumed genocide in Gaza.”
“But New Zealand has complained for decades about the veto powers of one country in the Security Council. Then, our government uses the very same US veto, which it opposes, to justify licencing the launch of spy satellites to target Gaza.”
“In particular, the New Zealand government is ignoring the International Court of Justice, which directs countries to do what they can to prevent Israel’s occupation from continuing.”
“Signing off on delivering the technology, which the IDF uses for its bombing runs on a civilian population, can hardly be interpreted as helping Israel end its occupation of Gaza.”
Minto says Collins’ alternative excuse, that New Zealand is not at war with Israel, so can’t sanction it, is equally nonsensical.
“It may come as news to the Defence Minister, but New Zealand is not at war with Iran or Russia either. Yet the government routinely imposes sanctions on both of these countries, with putting new sanctions on Iran just a few days ago.”
“Luxon obviously thought, in the TVNZ interview, that the New Zealand Export Controls regime should apply to the satellite launches.”
“If the launches have not been tested against this legislation, then they should be, and Collins should be told to keep her pen in her pocket.”
The PSNA message to the PM says:
Tēnā koe e Christopher Luxon,
We were shocked at the interview with Minister of Defence Judith Collins on TVNZ last Friday where she justified approving satellite launches for BlackSky Technology from Mahia Peninsula despite human rights warnings from government officials.
BlackSky Technology has a lucrative contract with the Israeli Occupation Forces to provide high resolution images for use in Israel’s targeting of Palestinians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza.
Since the initial approvals by Ms Collins the situation in Gaza has become catastrophic for Palestinians. So bad that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal Court for trial on charges of using starvation as a method of warfare as well as the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts.
Collins’ approvals mean New Zealand is directly implicated in Israel’s Gaza genocide.
This is a moral outrage to the big majority of New Zealanders.
We are urging you as Prime Minister to direct Ms Collins to decline all future satellite launches for BlackSky Technology.
John Minto
Co-ChairPSNA.nz
John Minto
Co-ChairPSNA.nz
