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Come To Waihopai Spy Base Protest, January 27-29

November 29, 2016 Leave a comment

FEATURING A DAY OF WORKSHOPS & “THE 5th EYE” IN BLENHEIM

SATURDAY JANUARY 28th

Nativity Centre, 76 Alfred Street, central Blenheim

UPDATED DRAFT PROGRAMME

This is still a work in progress (not helped by having to make changes to our basic arrangements, forced by Marlborough’s ongoing earthquakes. We decided it would be prudent to relocate our camp from Whites Bay to Onamalutu – see below for the details of how to find it).

We can advise you of the following key points.

1/ There will be no protest activity in Blenheim itself.

2/ The protest at the Waihopai spy base will be in the morning, not the afternoon (we will be at the base from 9.30-10.30 a.m.).

3/ The main focus of the day will be workshops in Blenheim both in the morning and afternoon. Featured speakers so far:

a/ Nicky Hager (on researching skills)

b/ Keith Locke and Warren Thomson (jointly, on Five Eyes/GCSB/Waihopai)

c/ Kyle Matthews (on the history of non-violent direct action as a tactic, including during the nearly 30 years of the Waihopai campaign)

d/ Liz Remmerswaal Hughes (a Kiwi who was at the very recent protest activities at the very nasty US warfighting and spy base at Pine Gap in Australia).

We also hope to have one on cyber-security issues.

All times and titles of workshops will be announced when they are finalised.

4/ We are delighted to confirm a screening of Errol Wright and Abi King-Jones’ excellent documentary “The 5th Eye” as the conclusion to that day of workshops. This will be the first (and maybe the only) Blenheim screening. Adi Leason, one of the three Waihopai Domebusters featured in the film, will be on hand to speak.

This time around it will be a protest at the base, a solid day of fascinating workshops with national (not to mention global) experts and the best film on the subject.

Make sure you register in advance (details below) so that we know how many to expect for the workshops. We also need to know numbers in advance for catering and camping purposes.

2016 has seen the Government change the law to remove previous restrictions on domestic spying by the NZ Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB). Not only does it systematically spy on New Zealanders – but it also routinely spies on any number of other countries, on behalf of the US National Security Agency (NSA). And the NSA spies on everyone. It is essential that more pressure is put on the Government to put an end to the anti-democratic and destructive activities of this NZ spy agency.

New Zealand’s role as an American ally is being steadily reconstituted. But our most significant contribution to Washington’s global effort to manipulate world business and diplomacy is, and has been for nearly 30 years, the Waihopai electronic intelligence gathering base, located in the Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim. It is controlled by the US, with NZ (including Parliament and the Prime Minister) having little or no idea what goes on there, nor any control.

First announced in 1987, Waihopai is operated by the GCSB in the interests of the foreign Powers grouped together in the super-secret Five Eyes Agreement (which shares global electronic and signals intelligence among the intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ). Its satellite interception dishes intercept a huge volume of civilian telephone calls, e-mail and computer data communications, including Twitter, Facebook and the like.

Five Eyes is the reason for the existence of both the GCSB and Waihopai. John Key has said that NZ’s ongoing military involvement with the tragic consequences of US policy in the Middle East is “the price of belonging to the club” i.e. Five Eyes, which is accountable only to its own constituent agencies, not governments, and certainly not citizens. Getting out of Five Eyes is vital to NZ becoming a truly independent nation

Join us for the weekend of anti-war protest at this spy base. Come prepared for roughing it and camping out. We provide the food (we cater for vegetarians but vegans will have to bring their own). Bring sleeping bag, groundsheet, a tent, torch, water bottle, eating utensils, clothing for all weather and temperatures, and $40 (or $20 unwaged) to cover costs. No open fires.

How to find our camp at Onamalutu: Take Highway 6 out of Blenheim (the Nelson road); cross the Wairau River bridge, take the first turn left into Northbank Road. Drive approximately 6 kms (15 minutes) to the bridge turn off to DoC’s Onamalutu camp (turn right at sign, into Onalmalutu Road and follow for 7 kms to camp site). It is a public camp with basic facilities. ABC has to pay a fixed charge per head.

Waihopai does not operate in the interests of New Zealanders or our neighbours. It spies on both. It has no proper oversight or control from our Government.

Basically it is a foreign spy base on NZ soil and directly involves us in America’s wars and America’s cynical manipulation of business and diplomatic affairs.

Waihopai must be closed!

I want to take part in the Weekend of Protest

Name __________________________________________

Address_________________________________________

Phone/mobile/Email_______________________________

I enclose $40 ($20 unwaged) per person registration to cover costs $______

I want to make a donation to the Waihopai campaign $_______

I can help with publicity in my area or network – Yes/No

I want to join the Anti-Bases Campaign. Annual membership is $20 ______ (includes subscription to Peace Researcher)

CLOSE THE WAIHOPAI SPYBASE NOW!

Organised by the Anti-Bases Campaign, Box 2258, Christchurch 8140.

E-mail abc www.converge.org.nz/abc