Hard News: Scuffling and screaming on The Left
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My view is to wait untill after the court case has started leaves those arrested swinging in the wind a bit too long.
i agree entirely. locking people up for the crime of 'dissent' is reprehensible.
i'm out of the loop on why they're still in the slammer, but they should have been bailed a long time ago.
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The only thing that seems 'off' to me is what others have also mentioned, the wearing of balaclavas during the raids. But we also don't know the reason for that - I still think it may be to protect the identity of secret agents or undercover police, rather than to intimidate. It definitely is intimidating, though.
That seems off to me too. The photographing of people at checkpoints also seems unjustified.
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True, would piss me off. I guess you have the right to refuse a photo, but you're probably afraid that would be seen as suspicious.
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WH,
There's a real disconnect between the stated goal (ie, changing the world) and the chosen means (presenting an unattractive and unpersuasive aspect to the world they wish to persuade).
Politics is not just about developing our own vision of how the world should be, its about how we organise ourselves in light of the fact that we all see the world differently. The "system" is not a monolithic structure that was set up to oppress the masses, its a constantly renegotiated compromise of incompatible forces and desires. Boo to the far left, and its mirror image on the right.
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Politics is not just about developing our own vision of how the world should be, its about how we organise ourselves in light of the fact that we all see the world differently. The "system" is not a monolithic structure that was set up to oppress the masses, its a constantly renegotiated compromise of incompatible forces and desires. Boo to the far left, and its mirror image on the right.
That's really nicely put WH.
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The "system" is not a monolithic structure that was set up to oppress the masses, its a constantly renegotiated compromise of incompatible forces and desires.
Or at least should be. There are some monolithic systems set up to oppress the masses, but I don't see it here in NZ.
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And yet, this government and most of the opposition are currently introducing laws that are ambiguous enough to criminalise political dissent.
TSA 2nd reading - Keith Locke. I don't often agree with Rodney Hide, and rarely invoke the ghost of Muldoon, but it pains me to to think how this legislation could be used by him, or another leader. Taking the power to designate someone as a terrorist, and later review that designation, should not be taken from the courts and made the prerogative of the Prime Minister. Concentrating these powers in one set of hands does create a monolith.
Likewise, the rapid introduction of 'secret evidence' and 'special advocates' into our legal systems, as with this and the new refugee act, is a huge step away from an open and reviewable system to one where the state has a monopoly on the terms and conditions which someone's freedom depends, and no chances to challenge this.
With absolutely no disrespect to the majority of commenters here, I would suggest that your views on the how restrained the police are would be different if you had received the same kind of treatment that many of my friends who were at the demonstration yesterday have experienced in the last few years. Arbitrary arrests, functional assault, and blatantly one-sided policing aren't exceptions but the norm.
I also find it highly troubling when commenters use comparisons to countries where political freedom is highly restricted to point out the ability to freely act in New Zealand. That may well be the case, but I value the freedoms I have in New Zealand very highly, and every time these are chipped away at, their value decreases. Yes, we are one of the better countries in this regard, but please, lets not take this for granted.
</rant>
And finally, I heard that Jill Ovens had quite an effect on the crowd, lecturing them in what was perceived as quite a patronising manner, setting Len up for conflict with the crowd and particularly Jarrod. I'd say that Jarrod's refusal of an apology relates much more to the mutual offense towards Len joining with Labour, which is much more of a sticking point, and more offensive than a swipe with a megaphone.
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Oh, in response to those racist comments, which are a clear violation of posting policy, I should also mention that Aotearoa Indymedia has been struggling to moderate properly, as two of the three active admins are currently in custody, and the other is very busy trying to sort out things related to their arrest. See Aotearoa Indymedia needs your help
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Boo to the far left, and its mirror image on the right.
I think the extremes in society do some important work in helping the moderate majority dwell in a fair&reasonable political climate; the centre of the bell curve is defined as much by the vocal fringes as by the general public.
For that reason I'm quite fine with the loony left and rabid right jumping on whatever political bandwagon they want. Voicing extreme views for which the moderate majority may hold qualified sympathy serves to edge society ever-so-slightly toward the perfect fit. Voicing wholly objectionable views does exactly the same thing, in the opposite direction (ref: enough is enough).
What I'm not happy about is the idea that we might now have a law that can be used to quash the fringe with threats of terrorism charges. Of course I condemn any kind of violent uprising, but it's anathema to me that an individual who is deemed unsavoury because of their firm & passionate beliefs (and a habit of speaking them, loudly) might have fewer rights than an individual who has cruelly & selfishly violated the basic rights of others.
I'm also extremely unhappy about the fact that I hadn't even heard of the Terrorism Suppression Act until a bunch of activists got thrown in jail. I'm not sure if it's my fault for walking around with my fingers in my ears, or it's the crappy MSM's fault for being more frenzied about parliamentary fistfights than any long-range-but-dull-sounding bills that're getting passed. What the hell else have I missed?
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Oh, in response to those racist comments, which are a clear violation of posting policy, I should also mention that Aotearoa Indymedia has been struggling to moderate properly, as two of the three active admins are currently in custody, and the other is very busy trying to sort out things related to their arrest. See Aotearoa Indymedia needs your help
I'd noticed that. I genuinely appreciate what Asher's done with Fight Dem Back and I don't envy him at the moment, trying to keep Indymedia on an even keel.
But look below the anti-Asian post -- there's a guy cheering on the throwing of a pipe bomb into Brown's Bay police station last night, in pursuit of the "revolution" he seems to think the rest of New Zealand is going to embrace. I'm afraid that really gives me the shits.
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I'm also extremely unhappy about the fact that I hadn't even heard of the Terrorism Suppression Act until a bunch of activists got thrown in jail. I'm not sure if it's my fault for walking around with my fingers in my ears, or it's the crappy MSM's fault for being more frenzied about parliamentary fistfights than any long-range-but-dull-sounding bills that're getting passed. What the hell else have I missed?
Ditto.
I don't want the PM to have the power to designate an individual or a group as terrorists. -
3410,
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Politics is not just about developing our own vision of how the world should be, its about how we organise ourselves in light of the fact that we all see the world differently. The "system" is not a monolithic structure that was set up to oppress the masses, its a constantly renegotiated compromise of incompatible forces and desires.
Politics is only one aspect of "the system".
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Russell - a pipe bomb was thrown at a Police Station?
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<<" Police station damaged by pipe bomb
6/11/2007 10:56:02
A pipe bomb was thrown into the Browns Bay Police Station on Auckland's North Shore overnight.
The bomb exploded, causing broken windows and shrapnel damage. Repairs are expected to cost several thousand dollars and the public counter area will be closed for the next few days. North Shore Area Commander Les Paterson says it is fortunate the building did not catch fire.">>Who's to say if it was the looney left or some bored East Coast Bays kids letting loose on Guy Fawkes with a larger than normal "banger". Throwing bottles at cops and destroying police property in the Bays was going on as far back as the early to mid 80s when I went to school up there by bored kids. It's pretty pointless leaping to conclusions about this incident, as it is prejudging the police actions in the last couple of weeks until there's a bit more information.
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Let me leap if no-one else will -
All I know about Browns Bay is that it's the "small town" outside of Auckland that Rachel Hunter comes from.
I'm gonna guess it's not known for Tuhoe radicals?
Random acts of bloody dangerous violence by middle class kids. I strongly suspect we'll see them on Scarfies next season.
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I thought Rachel Hunter actually came from Glenfield, several suburbs over. Can someone confirm?
Browns Bay was (still is?) a boring place with a great view. I speak as someone who grew up in the equally boring and beautifully-viewed Mairangi Bay, a few beaches south...
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Close - Browns Bay is an affluent middle class suberb on North Shore. There's a lot of English ex-pats and Koreans settled there as its not a cheap area to buy into. Not exactly a hot-bed of revolutionary discontentment. The limit of revolutionary fervour in the Bays was voting for Gary Knapp of Social Credit over Don Brash twice in the 80s for some totally incomprehensible fiscal reason. So yeah, there isn't likely to be barricades in the street outside Woolworths Browns Bay in the immediate future
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Who's to say if it was the looney left or some bored East Coast Bays kids letting loose on Guy Fawkes with a larger than normal "banger".
Several thousand dollars' shrapnel damage, multiple broken windows and the front counter likely to be out of action for days sounds a bit more than a banger.
But you're right, no sense jumping to conclusions. It was more the guy applauding the throwing of a bomb I didn't like.
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Could be right Danielle - I'm working from memory of a TV bio on Rachel where that was stated.
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All I know about Browns Bay is that it's the "small town" outside of Auckland that Rachel Hunter comes from.
I'm gonna guess it's not known for Tuhoe radicals?
Brown's Bay is part of the suburban North Shore and the station keeps gentleman's hours. It's near Takapuna, where the conference took place over the weekend, but that may not mean anything.
It seems the bomb was stuffed with .22 bullets. Bit more than a kids' prank by the look of it ...
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Browns' Bay? Sounds like the National Front to me.
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Which reminds me, where was the anti-terror hysteria two years ago? I mean the National Front have been committing acts of violence and intimidation, stockpiling explosives and openly boasting of forming a militia and training in the bush.
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That's a sick act.
I can't see any reason to complain about the cops actions or inactions at the conference let alone a revenge attack. -
Not that I'm tieing the two together
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vNot that I'm tieing the two together
Nah, and we really can't. I just don't like seeing fuckwits celebrating it.
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