Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2003 18:06:27 +0000 (GMT)
From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Scott=20Hamilton?= <s_h_hamilton-AT-yahoo.com>
Subject: AUT: US Embassy focus of NZ anti-war protests





Press Release For immediate release 3.30pm Sunday,
February 2nd 

Activists say many arrests at US embassy avoidable 

Activists say police over reaction led to more than 20
people being arrested at an anti-war demonstration at
the United States Embassy in Wellington today. 

"Police demonstrated a complete inability to deal with
symbolic, non-violent protest in a professional
manner," said Sam Buchanan of the Weapons Inspection
Arrestees Legal Support Group, an ad hoc group set up
to provide legal and financial help to those arrested
at the demonstration. 

"Wrestling people to the ground before dragging them
away was unnecessary and provocative. The police
showed an astonishing ability to turn a quite
light-hearted protest into a confrontation." 

"Had the police acted in a more restrained manner many
of these arrests could have been avoided," Mr Buchanan
said. 

Peace activists were making a theatrical 'inspection'
of the US embassy, saying they wanted to ensure the US
was not keeping any of its weapons of mass destruction
on the premises. A small group of activists were
arrested when they moved towards the embassy fence
after claiming they need to enter the compound to
check for weapons. 

About 150 people took part in the demonstration. 

For more information contact: 

New Zealand Citizen Weapon Inspection Team 
Phone (04) 385-6728 

For background information: citizen inspection

geocities.com/citizeninspection 
 
 
CTU Requests Meeting With US Ambassador
31 January 2003

The Council of Trade Unions has asked US Ambassador
Charles Swindells to receive a delegation from the
CTU’s 34 affiliated unions to express concerns over
the increasingly worrying Iraq situation, and the
implications for workers. 
"I have written to Mr Swindells on behalf of more than
300,000 working New Zealanders who are members of CTU
affiliated unions," said Ross Wilson.

"the letter conveys the concern and alarm workers have
at the daily statements by President Bush and other US
leaders, suggesting that the United States will take
unilateral military action against Iraq outside any
United Nations mandate and in apparent disregard of
international law."

Ross Wilson noted that all New Zealanders condemned
the terrorism and grieved for the victims.

"However it is bitterly ironical that we now face a
situation where, as part of the 
U. S. Government's 'war against terror', it intends to
ignore our only world governance institution, breach
international law and, in the face of overwhelming
opposition from world opinion, take military action
against Iraq which will inevitably result in the loss
of many more innocent lives," said Ross Wilson.

Ross Wilson said the Council of Trade Unions supported
the strengthening and implementation of treaties and
conventions for the elimination of all nuclear,
chemical and biological weapons through United Nations
processes. 

The CTU also supports mandated international
inspection of all countries developing and producing
weapons of mass destruction.
http://www.union.org.nz/news/104.html




===="Revolution is not like cricket, not even one day cricket"

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Everything you'll ever need on one web page
from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts
http://uk.my.yahoo.com


     --- from list aut-op-sy-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---