Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa
PSNA has written to Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith today requesting proposed ‘move-on’ laws will specifically continue to allow free speech and the right to protest under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.
The approach to government comes in the wake of last week’s attempt by Christchurch City Councillor, Aaron Keown, to close down Palestine solidarity protests at Christchurch’s Bridge of Remembrance.
As reported on Radio New Zealand Keown is insisting the police are keen to use the proposed new laws to shift protests on:
Keown said police told him months ago that they needed powers like the proposed move-on orders, which he believed would help disperse protesters.
Councillor Keown welcomed the newly announced move-on powers, which he believed would “absolutely help” disperse protesters, something Woods (Amnesty International director of advocacy and movement building Lisa Woods) said was of grave concern to Amnesty International.
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa’s Co-chair, John Minto says Keown’s statements contradict assurances made by senior police when a PSNA delegation met with them two weeks ago in Wellington to discuss increasing attacks on Palestine solidarity supporters by IDF soldiers and other elements of the pro-Israel lobby.
“At the meeting police specifically told our delegation these ‘move-on’ orders would NOT be used to restrict protest rights.”
“So, there is a mass of confusion around over the proposed new law.”
“We need the Justice Minister to use clear wording, when he introduces legislation into Parliament, that anyone exercising their rights under the Bill of Rights Act will not be included.”
“We already have many laws which were introduced for a particular purpose, but which have been used to restrict the right to protest – for example trespass orders and ‘unlawful assembly’ provisions under the Crimes Act,” Minto says.
“New Zealanders rights to free speech and right to protest in public are under attack. Last year police and the Independent Police Conduct Authority colluded to propose legislation which would have required police permission to organise a protest”
“Authoritarian regimes the world over are putting heavy restriction on the right to protest. Many of them claim to be democracies. It’s important we resist jack-boot policing here.”
John Minto
Co-Chair PSNA
