Peace

Action outside of Parliament tomorrow, 1pm, to highlight human rights abuses in China in the lead up to the Olympics. It marks the first day of Ni Yulan's trial. Ni Yulan is a vocal critic of the Chinese government and will appear in court for defending the rights of displaced people in Beijing.

"Ni Yulan is a courageous activist whose only crime has been to defend her rights and the rights of victims of forced evictions in Beijing. To try her on the eve of the Games is an extraordinary insult to those who lost their homes to the Beijing Olympics and shows contempt for human rights concerns raised by the international community. "
Sophie Richardson, Asia Director at Human Rights Watch.

See you tomorrow !

Hannah Scott

It is a constitutional affront for the Police to threaten students wishing to conduct a citizen’s arrest of visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Green Party MP Keith Locke says. Under the International Crimes and International Criminal Court Act 2000, proceedings can be taken against people visiting New Zealand who have been responsible for torture, or the launching of attacks which cause civilian casualties ‘clearly excessive’ to military objectives.

Our view is that if enough pressure goes on the Chinese government during the Olympic period we might be able to give some extra leverage to the many millions of Chinese trying to achieve greater freedoms. This Bill, going through at this time, is a betrayal of the international movement pressing for greater democracy in China.