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In a wave of massive state repression, 300+ Police, in many cases armed, raided houses around the country today making 17 arrests. Search warrants were carried out in Auckland, Whakatane, Ruatoki, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington and Christchurch. Police are also seeking up to 60 people for questioning. The arrestees are all activists in the Tino Rangatiratanga, peace and environmental movements. Prominent Tino Rangatiratanga activist Tame Iti was among the first arrested at his home at 4am Monday morning. At 6am raids were carried out at A Space Inside anarchist social centre in Auckland and the 128 activist Community Centre in Wellington. In Tuhoe Country, the town of Ruatoki was blockaded by armed police for several hours, with no cars allowed in and many searched. Although the latest events affects all of us, they have specific impacts on those in Ruatoki, and Maori throughout NZ. Please think critically about the information the media is feeding to us, and don't forget that for many colonisation such as instances of police repression, continue on a daily basis.Fear in the activist communities is rampant however we have decided that because we have nothing to hide that we will not be scared into complacency or silence. We will fight against the abuse of these state powers because we must. Protests have been organized nationally and internationally with thousands getting out on the streets in support of those detained.If you are from Wellington and have been involved in any political activity its likely that you know some of the arrestees, or you know someone who does. Unfortunately, their names are suppressed, they are still in police custody and are being transferred to Auckland for a court appearance on the 1st/2nd of November. We hope that they will be given bail on these dates, but obviously nothing can be confirmed. Please show your support of the arrestees and the voicing of political dissidence this Saturday (see below).
For more info; www.indymedia.org.nzhttp://www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz/http://www.conscious.maori.nz/news.phpwww.scoop.co.nz*
SATURDAY 27 Oct12 noon: Solidarity with national day of action. Gather at MidlandPark for a march, ending with speakers and music in Civic Square. Free all prisoners!Drop all charges!Repeal the Terrorism Suppression Act!Unconditional loveUnconditional solidarityUnconditional freedom9pm: Fundraising gig at Happy, Tory St, featuring the the Windups, mrsterile Assembly, Upper Hutt Posse, Te Kupu [video presentation], Julie Webb-Pullman [Kiwi-Journo who has just returned from Chiapas,Mexico], Ali Egoz [representitive from 128 Able Smith St]skirted.net/*
SUNDAY 28 Oct3pm: Letter writing to the prisoners at the laydee's tea party, in the womyn's room at 128 Abel Smith St.*
MONDAY 28 Oct6pm: Southern Cross (cnr Abel Smith and Cuba Sts), there will bespeakers and a donation taken for prisoner support at the filmscreening of 'Our Brand is Crisis': www.ourbrandiscrisis.net/*
TUESDAY 30 Oct6pm: Prisoner support meeting at 128 Abel Smith St. Open to all. *
WEDNESDAY 31 Octevening: Fundraising gig at Happy, Tory St, featuring Zombiefuck, Death Rattle, Goodbye Galaxy, Sweet Fanny Adams and the Feminazis*
FRIDAY 2 Novevening: Fundraising gig at Newtown Community Centre, Rintoul St,featuring Jessie Moss, Spartacus R, Olmecha Supreme