Urewera 16: It’s anarchy!

Posted on November 7, 2007 by @ndy

Paul Buchanan has written some interesting words on the Urewera 16 (of which the latest update is below), arguing that “[t]o clarify the debate given continued evidence suppression and putting legal wrangles aside, the question as to whether at least twelve of the Urewera 17 [sic] were involved in a terrorist conspiracy reduces to four fundamental principles: capabilities, preparation, planning and targets in the construction of a terrorist plot. Beyond that, it is a matter of ideology and law,” before proceeding to provide an analysis of these “four fundamental principles” in the context of the case. He concludes that “What is of concern to civil libertarians is that the Terrorism Suppression Act is broad enough to construe terrorist intent even if the four elements of a terrorist conspiracy are virtually non-existent, and even if there is little ideological support for the cause being espoused. That would appear to be the situation of the Urewera [16]” (A Comment On Terrorist Conspiracy, November 5, 2007).

The decision on whether or not to acquiesce to police wishes and proceed with charges of terrorism against the 12 is currently being reviewed by the Solicitor-General. In another examination of the case, Nicky Hager explains the legal basis upon which David Collins will make his decision, and concludes that the most sensible course of action for Police to take is to prosecute the 12 under ‘ordinary’, criminal law rather than the ‘political’ Terrorism Suppression Act (How To Decide Who Is A Terrorist?, November 6, 2007).

Last weekend was the date of the annual New Zealand Labour Party conference, the 91st in its history. Aside from the usual back-slapping and horse-trading, the conference was accompanied by protest. According to Chris Trotter, the protest (which was conducted in a manner most irresponsible), was unfortunately able to distract media attention away from Helen Clark’s announcement regarding future cuts in personal tax rates — one of the dividends of eight years of fiscally-responsible Labour Party rule. “That the news media declined to make Clark’s tax message its lead story, preferring instead to keep the public’s focus on an inconsequential fracas between the far-left and centre-left, must have been extremely vexing to a Prime Minister with good news to tell” (Labour sings a fine tune but is it a swansong?, Independent Financial Review, November 7, 2007).

Not that that’s the oddest thing about Trotter’s article: he actually draws a comparison between the Attorney General’s address, praising the role of ‘social democracy’ in keeping Western Civilization from falling back into the primordial ooze, and Walter Benjamin’s ‘Theses on the Philosophy of History’ (1940).

Which is a bit of a stretch, really.

Nevertheless, this slightly bizarre rhetoric does serve to add an ‘intellectual’ gloss to the otherwise everyday machinations of power which, in the form of the NZ Labour Party — in addition to possible tax cuts — is also responsible for placing a dozen people behind bars. Further, on grounds that appear to be increasingly flimsy, and with regards a group of people who — contra Trotter — really only resemble the Weathermen, Baader-Meinhof / Red Army Faction or Symbionese Liberation Army for those with an overactive imagination. (And what are the Red Brigades Chris? Fegato tagliato?) Strangely, Trotter describes the “60 or 70” protesters at the conference as “anarchists and communists”, ignoring what appears to have been an independent Maori presence; inside the New Zealand Parliament, on the other hand, there was more batshittery when a Maori Party MP, Hone Harawira, was accused by a political opponent of being an ‘anarchist’ on the basis that he opposes the Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill and expressed concern over recent police actions (Harawira accuses ‘state forces’ of terrorism, New Zealand Herald, November 7, 2007).

Bad enough to be Maori, but fuck me, an anarchist?

The Court Of Appeal has rejected an appeal against the lifting of name suppression for two more of the prisoners arrested in the October 15th raids.

Tuhoe Francis Lambert, 58, and Whiri Andrew Kemara, 38, both of Auckland, had had name suppression lifted by the Auckland District Court on Thursday November 1st, but their lawyers had immediately sought leave to appeal that decision and therefore interim suppression orders were granted until the appeal could be heard.

In total, 6 of the 16 arrestees have bail, with the other 10 remanded in custody at Auckland Central Remand Prison and Auckland Region Women’s Correctional Facility. Of the 16, only 4 still have name suppression.

On bail:

* Marama Mayrick, 24
* Ira Bailey, 28
* Male from Ruatoki
* Moana Winitana, 53
* Female from Auckland, 32 (TSA application)
* Rongomai Bailey, 28 (TSA application)

In custody:

* Whiri Kemara, 38 (TSA application)
* Jamie Lockett, 46 (TSA application)
* Tame Iti, 55 (TSA application)
* Male from Ruatoki (TSA application)
* Male from Wellington, 23 (TSA application)
* Tuhoe Lambert, 58 (TSA application)
* Omar Hamed, 19 (TSA application)
* Rawiri Iti, 29 (TSA application)
* Emily Bailey, 30 (TSA application)
* Valerie Morse, 36 (TSA application)

Posted in !nataS, Anarchism, State / Politics, War on Terror | 11 Comments

2007 Anarchist Anti-Election Manifesto

Posted on November 7, 2007 by @ndy
Posted in !nataS, Anarchism, Music, State / Politics | 1 Comment

“Scum” issue statement on 2007 ISD gig at Melbourne Croatia

Posted on November 7, 2007 by @ndy

Local neo-Nazi muzak group Blood & Honour Australia has issued a statement on their website regarding the 2007 Ian Stuart Donaldson memorial gig, held on October 13, 2007 at the Melbourne Croatia Social Club in Sunshine, at which four bands — Bail Up!, Final War, Fortress and Quick & the Dead — played to a crowd of somewhere between 40 and 200 people (mostly fellow boneheads). Keep in mind that when ‘[c]ontacted by The Weekend Australian, social club manager Catarina Malacic denied the event was held. “There was nothing on at the venue that night”‘.

Here ’tis:

Statement from the Blood and Honour Movement

On the 13th of October 2007 a memorial concert took place at Somers St. Sunshine Nth.

The venue was booked by phone some weeks before as a private function and those responsible for bookings were informed a couple of bands were to play.

Organizers arrived at approximately 4pm and a PA system was set up.

Around 5pm the people staffing the bar received threatening and abusive phone calls from anarchists and Marxists. Until this stage those operating the bar had no idea that a White Nationalist event was to be held.

After some discussion and reassurances it was agreed the concert would go ahead. Ultimately four bands played, the concert occurred without incident and those who attended left late that evening in a peaceful manner.

At no stage was this event ever linked or intended to be linked to the Melbourne Knights F.C. or Melbourne Croatian [sic] Social Club. It was purely seen as an isolated venue to hold a private get-together. If the show had been held at a Scout Hall it seems the same cowards making threats via phone would have held the entire Scout movement accountable.

The Chairman of M.K.F.C. [Matt Tomas] has been reported as calling supporters of the B&H Movement and S.C.H.S. [Southern Cross Hammerskins] as “scum”. Perhaps that term would better apply to those such as G.Roberts and C.Smith (aka Cam Sexenheimer) in regards to their efforts to attack, vilify and divide Australian-Croatians via their poorly researched and truth-challenged article “Neo-Nazis split Croat community”.

The only apology we will make regarding this entire matter is to the innocents of the M.C.S.C., caught in what amounts to a “beat up” orchestrated by anarchist and extreme left misfits. Frustrated by their impotence and inability to halt a meeting of White Nationalists they chose the easiest target they could find and made up a scapegoat in the name of the M.C.S.C. Absolutely reprehensible!

No further comment will be made or needs to be made.

For Blood and Honour
The Movement

“No further comment will be made or needs to be made”? Well, not by the anonymous members of B&H, at any rate. Once again, they’ve tried to hold a gig in secret, and failed. Once again, they’ve left others to clean up their mess.

By way of reply:

Aside from demonstrating (again) that the MCSC was indeed lying when its representatives claimed that there was ‘no gig’ on the night of October 13, to describe the annual tribute to dead bonehead Ian Stuart Donaldson as ‘just a couple of bands playing’ reveals not only a clumsy attempt by B&H to be tricksy, but constitutes an implicit acknowledgment that neo-Nazism is widely despised; that B&H are precisely as Matt Tomas described them — “scum” — and that, further, they know it. Hence the need to resort to subterfuge.

Of course, also interesting is the anonymous bonehead’s claim that “After some discussion and reassurances it was agreed the concert would go ahead”. In other words, the MCSC knowingly authorised the holding of a neo-Nazi event, thus putting paid to another, subsequent lie, this time by “club committee member Ivan Skunca… [that] the premises were booked for a concert, but… the club did not know who made the booking. “It was a mistake. Perhaps we had an obligation to check these people out and we didn’t. We apologise for that”.”

Note that just a few weeks prior to the ISD gig in Melbourne, the US branch of the Hammerskins attempted to hold ‘Hammerfest’, another neo-Nazi celebration in Portland, Oregon. Unfortunately for them, the management of the Elks Lodge are made of much different stuff to the management of the MCSC, and consequently, upon being informed that their facilities were being used by scum (scum who also pretended to be a “rock group reunion of friends”), Elks’ management immediately told them to piss off. In other words, Elks management refused to collaborate with a small group of local neo-Nazis, to lie about their use of club facilities, and to accept their “reassurances” that there would be no further repercussions for doing so. And it’s the repercussions for their friends at the MCSC that B&H appear to be most upset over (they themselves presumably confident that they will be able to continue — as they have for the last 20 years or so — to operate with relative impunity).

    …In spite of outward appearances, the evidence soon indicated that we had been very badly misled, and the guests in our facility were indeed an organization whose beliefs we can neither condone or support. They had also [misrepresented] themselves in renting the facility, and continued to misrepresent themselves in the evening. We shut down the event as quickly and as safely as possible after that and the group left before 8:00. None of the guests ever did admit who they were and their organizational affiliation. The members of our organization are both shocked and embarrassed by this event, and thank everyone for quickly bringing the true identity of these folks to our attention.

Unfortunately, while claiming that Greg Roberts’ article is poorly-researched, B&H offer no evidence to substantiate their argument, only mealy-mouthed words to the effect that “those responsible for bookings were informed a couple of bands were to play”.

One of those bands, Final War, came from Orange County in California. (They, like literally thousands of other neo-Nazi scum, find a place on myspace.) The fact that Final War, like the other bands playing, and the two local groups organising the gig, were neo-Nazis, was apparently kept from the MCSC. I say “apparently” because although being informed on the night of precisely these facts, as outlined above, the MCSC allowed the gig to go ahead. Further, representatives of the Club lied — and continue to lie — about the gig taking place, and the circumstances under which it did so.

As evidence of the character of the bands which performed at the Social Club — and with its blessing — Greg Roberts quoted one song by Final War called ‘Defenders of the Reich’. Here’s a few further samples of their lyrics:

‘Land of the White’

No Jews in power with money to bribe
I see our people once again having their pride
I see our children learning who they really were
I see the Jewish lies being taught no more

‘Tales of Honour’

He took the reins of power in 1933
The appointed deputy führer of the N.S.D.A.P.
This is the story of Rudolf Hess, a brave and loyal man
Gave his life for his beliefs because he loved his land

On that night of May 10th in 1941
He boarded an Me-110, for his mission had just begun
Destination — Scotland, the Duke of Hamilton he must seek
But what was to unfold from this emissary of peace?

Sieg Heil! — Rudolf Hess, your legacy lives on
Your courage and your honour keeps us marching strong
Sieg Heil! — Rudolf Hess, amongst the gods you lie
You live on in Valhalla, ‘cause true heroes never die

‘Victory or Death’

You gave it your all, you gave it your best
In beating the odds against time’s test
Locked away, shackled in chains
Despite the conditions your honor remains

Nothing can stop you not even death
Forever loyal until the last breath
You gave it your all, you gave it your best
The men of The Order you’re above the rest

Race over all, endless pride
Dedication and strength the will to survive
Whatever it takes, victory or death…

Finally, the anonymous bonehead also claims that “the concert occurred without incident and those who attended left late that evening in a peaceful manner”, but this is contradicted by pseudonymous members of the Melbourne Knights Army forum, whose discussion of the incident which did occur — and which evidently included a racial dimension — is so sensitive that it was censored by the Board’s moderators. Nevertheless, one opines that it “musta had something to do with the blokes hanging out at the front gate”; another that “if what I heard is true then the perpetrators need to be identified and publicly shamed”; yet another asks “why would our boys vandalise our own property”? Finally, another member concludes that, as a result of the incident, it’s “Time to bring out the trusty old srbosjek“: literally ‘Serb-cutter’ in Croatian, a specially-designed knife used for the rapid slaughter of Jews, Serbs, anti-fascist Croats and other victims of the Ustaše regime during WWII.

Top stuff from the angry white boys…

Posted in Anti-fascism, Media, Music, State / Politics | 2 Comments

From Putin to Prague and back again

Posted on November 6, 2007 by @ndy

Neo-Nazis on The March In Moscow
Simone Schlindwein
Spiegel Online
November 5, 2007

Thousands of Russian neo-Nazis marched through Moscow on National Unity Day this weekend, joined by pensioners, students and families. Experts believe Russia’s far right gives President Vladimir Putin a welcome justification for his authoritarian political style.

Russian [boneheads], hooligans, nationalists, fascists and racists gathered on Moscow’s Kutosovsky Prospect to mark National Unity Day on Sunday. They waved flags as they marched in single file along the banks of the Moskva River and to the Ukraina Hotel, across from the White House, the seat of Russia’s government.

“Russia for Russians!” the demonstrators shouted in unison, followed by slogans such as “For a Slavic, Russian nation!” or “Slavic, Russian, Powerful!” The demonstrators stretched out their arms in the Hitler salute between slogans. Their loud shouts of “Slavic Russia!” were followed by the sound of drum rolls…

With a nod and a wink from the Russian state. An indication of the political degeneracy of Russian neo-Nazis is given by the fact Hitler’s contempt for the Slavs of Eastern Europe fails to prevent them from adopting his Party’s symbology. Meanwhile, this coming weekend sees Czech neo-Nazis assembling in Prague to commemorate Pogromnacht (aka Kristallnacht) by marching through the (former) Jewish quarter of the city… well, maybe.

Posted in Anarchism, Anti-fascism, History, State / Politics, War on Terror | 15 Comments

Trot Guide 2007 #2.0 : 2007 Federal Election

Posted on November 6, 2007 by @ndy

It’s Melbourne Cup Eve, and despite the title of this blog, we’re Racing! into 2007 with the Trot Guide 2007 #2.0 : 2007 Federal Election. This year, Murdoch’s Choice has set a cracking pace, easily dictating terms to its principal rival, HoWARd’s Way. In a field that is exceedingly well strung out, bringing up the rear are the minor parties, which on the left include:

1) The Socialist Alliance

Essentially now an electoral front for the Leninist Democratic Socialist Perspective (nee Party), and barely pretending otherwise, SA is fielding a total of 27 losing candidates, in all states and territories except the Northern Territory, and in both Lower and Upper House seats. Like every other SA electoral campaign, this one will witness little support for the SA, and simultaneously be reported as a triumph by its press (the Green Left Weekly). In NSW, Lower House seats being contested by the SA are Blaxland, Cunningham, Grayndler, Newcastle and Parramatta; in Queensland, Brisbane, Griffith and Moncrieff; in Victoria, Corio, Gellibrand and Wills; in WA, Fremantle, Pearce and Perth; in Tasmania, Denison and Franklin; and in the ACT, Fraser.

In the 2004 Federal Election, SA fielded 34 candidates in total, contesting many of the same seats. For example, in Victoria, in the seat of Corio, SA candidate (and Geelong Trades Hall Secretary) Tim Gooden beat the LaRouchites into last place, gaining 505 votes for the SA; in Gellibrand, Linda Waldron also beat the LaRouchites into last place, gaining 508 votes; while in Wills, David Glanz (a member of the ISO, a Trotskyist sect which has since left the Alliance) scored 867 votes, thereby completing the trifecta of defeats for the terminally unpopular followers of Lyndon ‘Genius or Madman?’ LaRouche.

2) The Socialist Equality Party

Obviously not composed of triskaidekaphobes, the SEP is running 13 candidates this election, hoping to sweep to power on “A socialist program to fight war, social inequality and the assault on democratic rights”. Most SEP candidates are running in NSW and Victoria: in NSW, Terry Cook for Charlton, James Cogan for Chifley, Patrick O’Connor for Grayndler, Alex Safari for Kingsford Smith (SA contested this seat in 2004, only to be rejected by 99.6% of voters), Noel Holt for Newcastle and Chris Gordon for Parramatta; in Victoria, Frank Gaglioti for Calwell and Will Marshall for Melbourne. In WA, Joe Lopez is in the running for Swan. In summary, in addition to Senate seats from NSW and Victoria, the SA will be competing with the SEP in the unpopularity stakes in three seats: Grayndler, Newcastle and Parramatta. Whose Ideology Will Reign Supreme?

3) The Progressive Labour Party (Klaas Woldring and Max Bradley)

Klaas and Max are appealing for the support of voters in NSW in an ambitious attempt to join the Senatorial class, made all the more so by the fact that the name of the PLP will not appear on the ballot: “The Progressive Labour Party was registered on 19 January 1998 and deregistered on 27 December 2006″.

4) The Socialist Party

…is standing a grand total of one candidate, Kylie McGregor, in the seat of Melbourne. This will mean the Socialist vote will be s p l i t between the SP and the SEP. (Note that the SP has the unique distinction of being the only member of Trot Guide to penetrate the bowels of Government.)

5) The Communist League

A late entry: Ron Poulsen of the Communist League is one of six candidates for the very safe Labor seat of Watson in Sydney, NSW. According to Soviet Man, the CL have contested a number of elections in recent years. For example, in 2004, Ron also stood for Watson. Unfortunately, Ron received just 335 votes, or 0.5% of the total — on the bright side, 13 votes more than his previous effort in 2001. In 1996, Ron stood for the seat of Grayndler, gaining 208 or 0.3%. Ron has also stood for the Senate, in 1998 and 1993 (receiving an initial count of 86 votes). Incidentally, Antony Green notes that “John Howard’s origins are in this electorate, growing up in the family home at Earlwood. Unfortunately for those who cherish national heritage, the house where the Prime Minister spent his earliest years has been replaced by a Kentucky Fried Chicken store”, which I think is comically appropriate.

In the meantime, the Committee for a Revolutionary Communist Party in Australia, the Communist League,* the National Preparatory Committee of the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Australia, the New Era Communist Party of Australia, the October Seventh Socialist Movement, Socialist Appeal and the Socialist Labor Party of Australia are all complete non-starters, yet to even make it on to the track.

Probably ‘cos they all remain dead.

Further, while the World Socialist Party of Australia maintains a PO Box in North Richmond, the Freedom Socialist Party has gone into meltdown online, making it very difficult to ascertain which party, if any, either advocates proletarian voters support. Direct Action (nee the Marxist Solidarity Network), while also appearing to be in limbo, at least for the time being, would likely advocate a vote for SA. On the other hand, the Communist Party of Australia advocates Communists vote Green, as does the Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist), the Trotskyist International Socialist Organisation and Socialist Alternative.

Finally, note that, alongside the FSP, the websites of both Socialist Action and Solidarity appear to be down, although whether this means that the organisations themselves are too I dunno.

Posted in State / Politics, Trot Guide | 43 Comments

The NZ state acting like it’s “suppressing terrorism”

Posted on November 5, 2007 by @ndy

My Kiwi comrade Asher has written a summary of the situation facing the Urewera 16, the sixteen people currently facing charges for a number of alleged arms offences and, potentially, for crimes under the Terrorism Suppression Act (2002). Note that Section 67 of the Act states that the Attorney General must authorise the commencement of prosecutions under the Act. Rather than accept responsibility for this decision, the current Attorney General, Michael Cullen (who “enjoys music, reading, golf, and house renovation”) has hand-passed the political hot potato to the Solicitor-General (Solicitor-General to decide on terror charges, NZPA, October 29, 2007).

The work of a social democratic government is never done. The natural way of the world is to move in the opposite direction to the way we wish to go, towards greater inequality. For out of chaos, disorder, conflict, repression, and injustice we seek to create a better world in which we can give full expression to a belief in innate equality and social justice. And as soon as we stop then all begins to move back again to a state of nature. That is why we go forth from here reconfirmed in our resolve to continue the struggle for a better New Zealand, the struggle to build on what we have already done…

Please also note that two members of the Aotearoa Indymedia editorial collective are among those facing charges, and that the collective really needs support. If you’re interested in taking an active role in the collective, email imc-aotearoa-ed (at) lists.indymedia.org.

All 16 people arrested and charged with arms offences on Monday October 15th in nationwide raids appeared in the Auckland District Court on November 1st and 2nd. A 17th person arrested during the raids was charged with cannabis related charges and will appear separately. During the hearings, a number of the prisoners had name suppression dropped (some willingly, some not) and two more were bailed on top of those who were already out. Loud cheers greeted those bailed and others, and many cries of “We love you!” echoed through the court over the two days.

On Thursday November 1st, a few new pieces of information were revealed and confirmed. Firstly, that there will be two trials — one for the arms charges, and one for the charges under the Terrorism Suppression Act (if consent to lay them is granted by the Solicitor-General). Also, the details of which prisoners have had their files referred to the Solicitor-General by the Police was confirmed (12 of the 16). It was inferred by counsel for the Crown that there could be a decision by the Solicitor-General by the end of next week.

Cases heard on November 1st

1) A 38 year old Auckland man has interim name suppression, and is remanded in custody until December 3rd. The Police have applied to charge him under the Terrorism Suppression Act (‘the Act’).

2) Marama Mayrick, 24, of Hamilton, had her bail extended to December 3rd, although her attendance is excused on that date as long as she is represented by counsel. The Police have not applied to charge her under the Act.

3) Jamie Lockett, 46, of Auckland, is remanded in custody until November 12th, when he will apply for electronic bail (aka home detention). The Police have applied to charge him under the Act.

4) Tame Iti, 55, of Ruatoki, is remanded in custody until December 3rd, although he will have a bail appeal in the Rotorua High Court on November 7th. If bail is granted, his attendance on December 3rd will be excused as long as he is represented by counsel. The Police have applied to charge him under the Act.

5) Ira Bailey, 28, of Wellington, was granted bail (not opposed by the Crown) to a Wellington address until December 3rd. His attendance on December 3rd will be excused as long as he is represented by counsel. His bail conditions include not to go to Ruatoki, a 10pm – 6am curfew and not to obtain any firearms. The Police have not applied to charge him under the Act.

6) A male from Ruatoki was granted bail to Ruatoki (not opposed by the Crown) to reappear on December 3rd. His attendance on December 3rd will be excused as long as he is represented by counsel. His conditions include reporting to the Whakatane Police Station every Friday and a 10pm – 6am curfew. The Police have not applied to charge him under the Act.

7) A second male from Ruatoki was remanded in custody until December 3rd. He will have a bail appeal in the Rotorua High Court at an as-yet undecided date before then however. The Police have applied to charge him under the Act.

EIGHT) A 23 year old male from Wellington was remanded in custody until December 3rd. The Police have applied to charge him under the Act.

9) Moana Winitana, 53, of Palmerston North, had his bail extended until December 3rd. His attendance on December 3rd will be excused as long as he is represented by counsel. The Police have not applied to charge him under the Act.

10) A 59 year old male from Auckland is remanded in custody until December 3rd. He may have a bail application on that date. The Police have applied to charge him under the Act.

11) A 32 year old Auckland woman had her bail extended until December 3rd. The bail conditions were also changed, with a lessening of the curfew amongst other changes (against the Crown’s wishes). The Police have applied to charge her under the Act.

Cases heard on November 2nd

12) Rongomai Bailey, 28, of Auckland, had his bail extended through until December 3rd. The Police have applied to charge him under the Act.

13) Omar Hamed, 19, of Auckland (an Aotearoa Indymedia activist), had a bail application which took up most of the day. It was denied by the Court for reasons which are suppressed. He also applied for a fresh order of name suppression, which was also denied. He is remanded in custody until December 3rd. The Police have applied to charge him under the Act.

14) Rawiri Iti, 29, of Hamilton, made a fresh application for bail due to a change in circumstances since his initial application was denied. The Judge ruled that there had been no change in circumstances, and so no application for bail was heard. He is remanded in custody until November 23rd, when he will apply for electronic bail (home detention). The Police have applied to charge him under the Act.

15) Emily Bailey, 30, of Wellington, did not make a bail application and is remanded in custody until December 3rd. The Police have applied to charge her under the Act.

16) Valerie Morse, 36, of Wellington, did not make a bail application and is remanded in custody until December 3rd. The Police have applied to charge her under the Act. Rebel Press, who published Morse’s recent book Against Freedom (on the “War On Terror” in Aotearoa / New Zealand), have put out a press release in support of her.

Finally, in a rare piece of welcome news, attorneys for the West Memphis 3 — Jessie Misskelley, Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin — have submitted a Second Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus on the basis of new DNA evidence which allegedly proves that the three were not responsible for the slaying in 1993 of three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas: Chris Byers, Steve Branch, and James Michael Moore.

Posted in !nataS, Anarchism, Media, State / Politics, War on Terror | Leave a comment

The Joy Of Fools

Posted on November 4, 2007 by @ndy
    “A change of rulers is the joy of fools.”

November 24 is The Day.

Joe Toscano of the Anarchist Media Institute / ‘Anarchist World This Week’ / Defend & Extend Medicare Group / Direct Democracy Not Parliamentary Rule (nee Vote Informal Today, Direct Democracy Tomorrow) / Libertarian Workers For A Self-Managed Society / People for Constitutional Human Rights / Reclaim the Radical Spirit of the Eureka Rebellion / Sedition Charter is running for the Victorian Senate again, urging voters not to. For either himself, or his running mate, Jude Pierce. The Age gossip columnists provide the good citizens of Victoria with this profile of the good doctor’s campaign:

FINALLY, an election candidate with a real point of difference between John and Mr Me Too, Kevin.

3CR’s left of left broadcaster Joseph Toscano, 55, host of ‘Anarchist World this Week’ and frequent letter writer to The Age and Phil Ruddock (they’re not exactly penpals), is standing as an independent in the Senate with Jude Pierce.

How’s this: Joe has never voted and is not even enrolled but he damn well knows his rights: “My favourite bedtime reading is the Australian constitution and the Commonwealth Electoral Act,” Joe told us. “Under the constitution, anybody who is entitled to vote is entitled to stand.”

Jude isn’t so bolshie because she votes. Joe, a veteran anarchist, has tried to become a senator seven or eight times — “I have lost count” — but it’s only a matter of time before his platform resonates with the weary public. The biggest selling point is The Power of Recall where voters can call elections to turf out “non-performing” MPs by signing a petition. The other planks are Citizen Initiated Referendum, and Direct Democracy not Parliamentary Rule, where voters make the decisions and elect delegates, who can be sacked for “non-performance”, with a fixed mandate to run the show.

As to where you’ll find Joe ‘n’ Jude on the ballot paper, that’s tricky. Because they’re not a registered political party and standing as a group, they’ll have a box above the line but it won’t have their name. Look out for their mystery space. Joe wanted “Independent” next to their box but the AEC said that’s illegal. To have “Independent” they have to stand individually and those candidates can only have a box below the line, where voters have to number every box.

To make it even more confusing, Joe ‘n’ Jude’s names will be below the line but given Joe’s research reveals only 5 per cent of people can be bothered numbering the boxes, they’re unlikely to be making victory speeches. That’s a shame. Imagine all the pollies who could have been booted out.

Pffft.

Tiocfaidh ár lá!

In any case, the winner was declared back in April: Rudd. The rest is just for show, and, with a few noteworthy exceptions, a pretty dull one at that. Thus as Dean Jaensch (semi-)correctly observes: “The fact that there is no sign of any favourable change to the Liberal Party in the polls suggests that the one distinguishing policy – WorkChoices – is looming large, and that personality, and the “new leader/team” approach of Labor is having an important effect” (Me-too tactics risk ‘why you?’ effect, ABC, October 31). In other words, while sharing the same fundamental political commitments and policy perspectives, Labor is identified as being opposed to an unpopular new IR regime, and is therefore attracting more support. Plus, HoWARd’s getting even more old and boring, so “It’s Time” Australian Politics received a new image. In summary, the only real, political opposition to the Tories is The Greens, and how they fare, especially in the race for Senate seats, is one of the only really consequential issues. Nonetheless, there are some questions remaining, most of which concern those on the margin of the margins. For example:

    Which right-wing Christian fundamentalist will the ALP back in the Senate?
    Just how badly will the Socialist Alliance fare?
    In WA, will a Socialist student and a laboratory assistant outpoll a racist consultant, company director, director and supply officer?
    What do Women Want, and is It What Voters Want too?
    Are the bizarros belonging to the Conservatives for Climate and Environment more or less popular than the bizarros belonging to the LaRouche cult Citizens Electoral Council? (Is the CEC’s message that “Greenies promoting windmills and solar cells would send us back to the Stone Age” actually getting through to the voting public, or not?)
    Who will win the battle for last place in Murray: Diane Teasdale, Rob Bryant, Jeff Davy or Paul Merrigan?

Stay tuned!

Posted in !nataS, State / Politics | 13 Comments

“…the possibility of being not only labelled a terrorist in the media, but prosecuted as one, is a reality.”

Posted on November 2, 2007 by @ndy

Valerie Morse, a 36 year-old anarchist from Wellington, is one of four more of the Urewera 16 (nee 17) whose names were released to the public yesterday, the others being Moana Hemi Winitana and Ira and Emily Bailey. (Of the 16, police have applied to the Solicitor-General to prosecute 12 under anti-terror laws.) This means that ten people have so far been named: Emily Bailey, 30, Ira and Rongomai Bailey, 28, Omar Hamed, 19, Rawiri Iti, 29, Tame Iti, 55, Jamie Lockett, 46, Marama Mayrick, 24, Valerie Morse, 36, and Moana Hemi Winitana, 53. “Six names remain suppressed, including that of a Wellington man who had not been able to tell his mother in Europe of the charges. Two are fighting lifting of name suppression in the High Court. Eleven of the accused are still in custody. The remainder have been freed on strict bail conditions. Tame Iti’s nephew, Rawiri Iti, is due to appear in court today, while the 17th person arrested during the raids faces cannabis charges only and will appear separately.”

Suspect Previously Published Book On War On Terror
Friday, 2 November 2007, 12:05 pm
Press Release: Rebel Press

Alleged Terror Suspect Previously Published Book On ‘War On Terror’

2 November 2007

Valerie Morse, a well-known Wellington anarchist activist and one of the 17 arrested in the police ‘anti-terror’ raids, previously published a book on the effects of the ‘war on terror’ just six months prior.

Against Freedom: The war on terrorism in everyday New Zealand life was published in June and is a prophetic survey of the raft of anti- terror legislation passed in New Zealand since 2001 and of the dangers posed for activists – especially those involved in anti-war, environmental and Tino Rangatiratanga movements – as well as migrants and refugees. It also covers the rise of State surveillance by the Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and the media complicity in its reporting on the ‘war on terror’ in the Pacific and further abroad.

A prophetic passage from the book reads as such: “It is clear that political dissent is now more perilous and more treacherous than before September 11th. Given the new counter- terrorism laws, the possibility of being not only labelled a terrorist in the media, but prosecuted as one, is a reality. By casting political dissent as terrorism, the government, its agencies, the media, and other vested interests assault our freedom of expression” (82).

The book is freely available as PDF on the Rebel Press website, as a hard copy directly from the publisher, or from a number of popular book stores including Unity Books and The Freedom Shop in Wellington.

Valerie Morse had name suppression lifted yesterday but remains detained by the State. Her publisher offers her their unconditional support and solidarity, and demand all charges against the 17 be dropped immediately.

Rebel Press / PO Box 9263 / Te Aro / Wellington [email protected]

In other news, “An independent survey [of a representative sample of 750 people] has shown that only a small proportion of New Zealanders think police overreacted in recent nationwide raids – with most reserving judgement”, according to Radio New Zealand (November 2, 2007). See also : The Urewera 16 appear in court together, Beck Vass, NZ Herald, November 2, 2007

Posted in Anarchism, Media, War on Terror | 6 Comments

USA Today: More trouble on tour for Tommy

Posted on November 1, 2007 by @ndy
    Update : According to Reuters (Controversial Croat band locked out of Canada venue, Solarino Ho, November 2) Thompson has had one venue pull the plug on his/their concert scheduled for November 4 in Toronto, forcing him/them to find an alternative, less public platform.

Jewish groups protest Catholic church’s decision to host Croat musician

Jewish groups are calling on Catholic leaders to ban a controversial Croatian musician whose band is scheduled to perform Friday at a church-owned concert hall in New York City.

The ADL and Simon Wiesenthal Center say Marko Perković, who performs under the stage name Thompson, has glorified the pro-Nazi regime that is blamed for the deaths of thousands of Jews during World War II. A report in the Daily News says members of Thompson “extol ethnic cleansing – and their fans often greet them with the Nazi salute.”

The newspaper reports that Thompson has been banned in Canada and the Netherlands. His website says the band is scheduled to play Friday at the Croatian Center in Manhattan, which is linked to St. Cyril & St. Methodius Croatian Church.

This prompted Mark Weitzman of the Wiesenthal Center to demand action from Edward Cardinal Egan, the city’s top Catholic.

“Any glorification of the Ustashe regime, with its murderous record against Jews, Serbs and other Croats, especially one that uses popular culture to appeal to a new generation, must be firmly rejected,” Weitzman writes in a letter. “I urge you to take the lead on this issue, and to reaffirm the Church’s commitment against antisemitism, intolerance and violence by making sure that there is no connection between the Church and Perkovic that could in any way imply support of his hateful positions.”

This morning, church officials responded to Weitzman’s letter. He wouldn’t give us a copy, but he did say that the local pastor has assured the archdiocese that Thompson “doesn’t engage in inappropriate behavior.”

Weitzman says he plans to take the church up on its invitation for the Wiesenthal Center to provide additional information about the parts of Thompson’s performance that they find objectionable. “Am I satisfied with that response? I think that it could have gone a little deeper … it really warranted a really significant investigation,” he says.

USA TODAY has requested comment from a spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York. As for the critics, they’re not planning to hold protests outside the concert venue.

“I’m not organizing anything, I’m not calling for anything. I don’t want to make a bad situation worse,” Weitzman says. If Perković and his fans live up their reputation, Weitzman says it will be “a deep shame for all involved — those who performed, those who attended and those who allowed it to happen.”

Update at 6:04 p.m. ET: On Deadline just heard from Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in New York City. Here’s an excerpt from the letter Zwilling sent to the Wiesenthal Center:

We have been attempting to carefully investigate Marko Perkovic, also known as Thompson. The pastor of the local Croatian parish has assured us that Mr. Perkovic does not engage in inappropriate behavior, and that he will speak with Mr. Perkovic prior to any appearance in New York to make certain that such will be the case during his scheduled upcoming concerts. I myself have done what investigating I could, which has been hindered because much of the information on him is in Croatian. However, I have not found anything that would indicate that he has engaged in objectionable behavior.

Zwilling says the Wiesenthal Center sent him more information today that was “inconclusive.”

We received an e-mail this afternoon from a Thompson supporter who claims the allegations are “blatant propaganda and outrageous lies.”

We can’t confirm the authenticity of the quotes attributed to the singer in that message, but they do match up with what Perković said during a concert in June. “I’ve had enough of the unjustified attacks!” the Associated Press quotes him as saying in Zagreb. “I’m a musician not a politician. At my concerts I sing about love, God and the homeland — only about that and nothing else.”

In June, a New York Times reporter attended one of Thompson’s concerts.

See also : Australians protesting Croat’s concert, JTA, October 31, 2007

Posted in Music | 10 Comments

mad props 2 zamboni

Posted on October 31, 2007 by @ndy

October 31, 1926 — In Bologna, Mussolini survives an assassination attempt by 15 (16?) year old anarchist Anteo Zamboni.

“Anarchical Communists”, Time, September 17, 1928:

Only once has a Fascist mob lynched an assailant of Signor Benito Mussolini. The single instance occurred at Bologna (TIME, Nov. 8, 1926). There the Dictator sat implacable and silent, in his limousine, after a bullet had ripped through his sash of the Grand Cordon of the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, barely skirting the abdomen.

The mob, interpreting Il Duce‘s silence as a command, put 14 stiletto strokes into the assailant, one Anteo Zamboni, and pummeled his remains into a pulp.

Since then Law has been slowly enlarging the circumference of Signor Mussolini’s vengeance. Last week the father and mother of Lynchee Zamboni were sentenced at Rome to 30 years in Jail as instigators and accomplices.

Father Momolo Zamboni vigorously denied all guilt, but produced a very bad effect upon the Court by remarking with candor and simplicity: “We are Anarchical Communists. Anarchical because we do not want any government. Where there is government there is authority, and where there is authority there is not that true liberty which we desire. We are Communists because we wish that everything which exists or which is produced be shared by everybody.”

Counsel for the defense submitted that his clients were not really “Anarchical Communists” but just “idealistic anarchists.”

The vast difference between an “anarchical communist” and an “idealistic anarchist” is, of course, that between a resolute, active borer from within Society, and a dreamy yearner after millennium. But the Court, a military tribunal, seemed unimpressed by even so glaring a disparity.

Posted in Anarchism, Anti-fascism, History | 1 Comment