Occupy Auckland crackdown | The Jackal

28 Nov 2011

Occupy Auckland crackdown

There's no question that the lead up to the 2011 election has given the New Zealand Occupy movement a reprieve from any harsh Police action to break up their protests. However I predict that this time has come to an end.

Today, Jessica Tasman-Jones reported:

This afternoon protesters confirmed they had been given a trespass notice from Auckland Council asking them to move on due to their breach of bylaws banning camping in public spaces. 
The group, which includes union members, legalise cannabis supporters and members of the Mana Party, was established in solidarity with the Occupy Wall St movement which set up camp in New York's financial district on September 17. 
The international movement has been sparked by wealth inequality and corporate influence on government. 
Police have previously been reluctant to move protesters on, believing their right to protest, under the Bill of Rights Act, overrides local bylaws.

Well that's the reason the Police gave, however a directive would have been given to not cause any negative reporting prior to the election by violently breaking up the Occupy New Zealand protests.

Now that the election is over, there is the very real potential that the Police will break up the peaceful Occupy protests by force. With a complacent media, we can also expect underreporting.

So much for democracy.