- Image stolen. Part of an ace photo set by Simon Oosterman of the protest outside the “bourgeois workers’ party” conference last weekend…
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)
Sometimes I wonder if solidarity can ever come from people with well-washed regular hair.
Sometimes I wonder if solidarity can ever come from people with mohawks, dreadlocks, or who wear converse sneakers.
“Sometimes I wonder if solidarity can ever come from people with well-washed regular hair.”
Spoken like a genuine fuckwit… Take a bow son.
It strikes me as a bit of a miracle that someone so ignorant could manage to type that comment without mashing the words. Well done!
Hey Greg I didn’t realise the emancipation of the working class would result in an egalitarian yet humourless society full of little cry babies but I guess that is your vision of anarchist revolution so props to you brus and maybe if you are lucky we will never meet when there is a trolley poll around, “fuckwit”.
Anarchism
-The WORLD SAYS NO.
Damn!
“Hey Greg I didn’t realise the emancipation of the working class would result in an egalitarian yet humourless society full of little cry babies but I guess that is your vision of anarchist revolution so props to you brus and maybe if you are lucky we will never meet when there is a trolley poll around, “fuckwit”.”
Perhaps I was barking up the wrong tree but I read it as a typical redneck comment perpetuating stereotypes almost word for word as what you get in rural Australia – where I reside. And yes I know that I too have just stereotyped rural Australia but I speak with vast experience in dealing with narrow-minded fools.
gregg.
Well Greg I am glad you realise I was taking the piss and you will find I am the first person to ark up when someone reduces left wing ideology to dread locked “hippies” hugging trees but on the other hand I am still willing to make light hearted observations that stem from the fact that between these NZ shenanigans, APEC and half a dozen other global events this year that have been captured on camera and put on the internet there always manages to be one or two stand out efforts in dedicated hair matting that make me smile.
“Well Greg I am glad you realise I was taking the piss and you will find I am the first person to ark up when someone reduces left wing ideology to dread locked “hippies” hugging trees but on the other hand I am still willing to make light hearted observations that stem from the fact that between these NZ shenanigans, APEC and half a dozen other global events this year that have been captured on camera and put on the internet there always manages to be one or two stand out efforts in dedicated hair matting that make me smile.”
So does this mean we’ve kissed and made up? 🙂
all the best.
gregg… that’s gregg not greg 😉
Re: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PPWDglTboI
ROFL… I’ve never heard of or seen this before but I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever seen. In saying that though, I’ll deal with you like I dealt with Curly Jefferson, Lumpen. I’m sorry… Do you think you could ever love me?
all the best.
(old)gregg – still laughing!