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.
Green Party MP Keith Locke has welcomed improvements in the Immigration Bill, reported back to Parliament today, but says it is still oppressive.
Mr Locke sat on the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee for hearings on the Bill. The report includes his minority comments on behalf of the Green Party.
Auckland Green Party MP Keith Locke hails the new Helensville-Auckland passenger service, after travelling on the inaugural train this morning.
“More than 100 people boarded the first train at 6.32 this morning, with further passengers getting on along the way at previously unserviced stations,” Mr Locke, the Party’s Spokesperson on Auckland transport issues, says.
Security and Intelligence Estimates
I wish to speak on the supplementary estimates relating to intelligence services that come under the name of Vote Communications Security and Intelligence, for the Government Communications Security Bureau, and Vote Security Intelligence, for the Security Intelligence Service.
Nandor Tanczos: That’s an oxymoron.
Green Party MP Keith Locke wants the Government to ensure the Black Caps tour of Zimbabwe doesn’t go ahead.
New Zealand Cricket is saying it won’t stop the tour on its own, and suffer penalties under International Cricket Council rules. The ICC, at its conference this week, decided that Zimbabwe Cricket would remain a part of the Future Tours Programme.
Reports that Colombian Green Party politician Ingrid Betancourt, along with three American citizens, has been rescued from FARC militia after six years in captivity have been greeted with enthusiasm by the New Zealand Green Party.
Ms Betancourt was the presidential candidate for the Colombian Green Party in 2002.
Green Party Police Spokesperson Keith Locke wants the Police Commissioner to review the way his officers are using pepper spray.
“It is apparent to me that pepper spray was inappropriately used in three separate cases that have come to public attention over the past month,” Mr Locke says.
The Green Party fully supports the Prime Minister’s motion, and we are pleased that it has incorporated some of the Green Party’s motion that was to be moved today. The Mugabe regime has been an utter disaster for the people of Zimbabwe and has been able to survive for so long only because of support from some neighbouring countries, particularly the Mbeki Government in South Africa.