Peaceful Liberal State + Terrorist Training Camps = ?

[gumboot]

Stay Tuned And You Might Find Out (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/index.cfm?c_id=1501470)

Yesterday, 300 New Zealand Police executed a series of armed raids on properties around the country - the pointy end of a months-long surveillance of political activists allegedly involved in paramilitary training camps. Add into the mix that some of the warrants were issued under the Suppression of Terrorism Act, and finally add a pinch of racial tensions, with some of those arrested being prominent Maori activists.

The press, activists, civil liberties commentators, and everyone and their auntie is having an absolute field day with this.

New Zealand is a very quiet backwater of the world. Despite some terrorist-linked people being picked up here from time to time, and despite the popularity of our passports with spies, terrorists, and others, New Zealanders consider themselves totally safe from the spectre of terrorism. We don't wage wars, we don't anger anyone...

I'm curious to see where this leads. Things could get very ugly.

-Gumboot

[Gurdur]

You have to admit it makes a change from worrying about bikie gangs there.

[gumboot]

My favourite thing is how the media are simultaneously selling the "threat" for all it's worth while leaping on their pet favourite "police-bashing" hobby horse as well.

God I hate the media.

-Gumboot

[Gurdur]

...God I hate the media.

Just be thankful that Rupert Murdoch started life as an Australian and not as a Kiwi. You think you have problems and guilt?

[quixotecoyote]

Well, there's two sides to it.

It's great the police stopped the bad guys.

It's not so great they created a precedent for using anti-terrorism powers on citizens.

[gumboot]

Well, there's two sides to it.

It's great the police stopped the bad guys.

It's not so great they created a precedent for using anti-terrorism powers on citizens.


I suppose that depends entirely on if what they were doing constitutes terrorism. We will have to wait and see. If half the rumours floating around are true, some of these people are guilty of terrorism and treason. Having said that, all of the rumours are probably false. The media are good like that.

-Gumboot

[Gurdur]

.....If half the rumours floating around are true, some of these people are guilty of terrorism and treason.


If their tribe never signed the treaty, treason is not an applicable charge. Just saying, is all.

[quixotecoyote]

I suppose that depends entirely on if what they were doing constitutes terrorism. We will have to wait and see. If half the rumours floating around are true, some of these people are guilty of terrorism and treason. Having said that, all of the rumours are probably false. The media are good like that.

-Gumboot


I'm going solely on the article, mind you, but it appears that the anti-terrorism laws were passed explicitly to deal with non-citizen, external threats, implying that they are more invasive than laws for internal use.

[quixotecoyote]

If their tribe never signed the treaty, treason is not an applicable charge. Just saying, is all.

I'm not sure they'd prefer it to be viewed as a war.

[gumboot]

If their tribe never signed the treaty, treason is not an applicable charge. Just saying, is all.


Um... no. That's not how it works at all. (It's not about "their tribe" anyway. The media and various activists are pushing the race button for all its worth because it stirs things up. The people targeted come from all around the country and numerous ethnic backgrounds).

-Gumboot

[Gurdur]

Um... no. That's not how it works at all. (It's not about "their tribe" anyway. The media and various activists are pushing the race button for all its worth because it stirs things up. The people targeted come from all around the country and numerous ethnic backgrounds).

-Gumboot

Perhaps I should never attempt humour. It only gets me into trouble.

[gumboot]

I'm going solely on the article, mind you, but it appears that the anti-terrorism laws were passed explicitly to deal with non-citizen, external threats, implying that they are more invasive than laws for internal use.


That's a very interesting point, however reading the Act indicates to me that this is not accurate. In addition, the Terrorism Suppression Act doesn't actually outline special powers that the government has in suppressing terrorism. It identifies terrorism offences, and it specifically deals with matters such as dealing with foreign suspected terrorists picked up in New Zealand (primarily their rights and protections, and the procedure for notifying other states of their capture).

In other words, far as I can tell the Act doesn't really give the government special powers to suppress terrorism. It is essentially a ratification of various United Nations anti-terrorism conventions.

The procedure for prosecuting people found guilty of offences is handled by an entirely separate act.

-Gumboot

[gumboot]

Perhaps I should never attempt humour. It only gets me into trouble.


:p Sorry. It's not always easy to detect humour in this forum. ;)

-Gumboot

[dudalb]

New Zealand is a very quiet backwater of the world. Despite some terrorist-linked people being picked up here from time to time, and despite the popularity of our passports with spies, terrorists, and others, New Zealanders consider themselves totally safe from the spectre of terrorism. We don't wage wars, we don't anger anyone...

And no one ever heard of New Zealand till Peter Jackson came along:D:D:D:D
New Zealand might be safe from Al Quida type terrorism,but that does not mean there are not a few home grown loonies out there.
What is curious is that New Zealand is perceived as being a place where Maoris and people of European descent live in perfect harmony.Not so, apparently.

[Damien Evans]

This wouldn't all be due to French spies again would it?:D