New Zealand Government Plans to Revise Terror Laws to Suppress Political Protest

The New Zealand government plans to revise terror laws to charge individuals who make public statements deemed to support terrorist organizations, expanding the criteria for proscribing organizations and aligning with repressive Western countries like the UK. The changes are part of a broader trend of legislation to close down dissent over New Zealand's foreign policy, now closely aligned with NATO and US interests.

The proposed revisions aim to redefine material support to include public expressions of support for terrorist acts or designated entities, such as showing insignia or distributing propaganda. This would allow for the prosecution of individuals for merely expressing support for a proscribed organization, suppressing freedom of speech and the right to protest. The changes also seek to widen the criteria for proscribing organizations to include groups that "facilitate" or "promote and encourage" terrorist acts.

The Ministry of Justice has been consulting with unnamed groups to revise the Terrorism Suppression Act, expanding the process for designating organizations as terror groups. This move is concerning for the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties (NZCCL), who sees it as an attempt to limit the rights of New Zealanders to engage in political protest. The NZCCL is also worried about the proposed changes to the Act, which would improve the timeliness of the process for proscribing organizations and extend the renewal period from three to five years.

Key Takeaways:

• The New Zealand government plans to revise terror laws to charge individuals for making public statements deemed to support terrorist organizations.
• The proposed revisions aim to redefine material support to include public expressions of support for terrorist acts or designated entities.
• The changes would align New Zealand with repressive Western countries like the UK, where scores of independent journalists and anti-genocide protesters have been arrested and charged under terrorism laws.
• The New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties (NZCCL) is concerned about the proposed changes, sees it as an attempt to limit the rights of New Zealanders to engage in political protest.
• The NZCCL is also worried about the proposed changes to the Act, which would improve the timeliness of the process for proscribing organizations and extend the renewal period from three to five years.
• The government has been consulting with unnamed groups to revise the Terrorism Suppression Act, expanding the process for designating organizations as terror groups.
• The proposed changes are part of a broader trend of legislation to close down dissent over New Zealand's foreign policy, now closely aligned with NATO and US interests.

Statistics:

• Over 100 people were arrested across the UK on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action, a non-violent protest group proscribed as a terrorist organization by the British government earlier this month.
• The UK's Terrorism Act has been used to target independent journalists and academics, including Electronic Intifada journalist Asa Winstanley, who had his home raided and devices seized in October last year as part of the opaque counter-terror drive "Operation Incessantness".
• In May, the country's Central Criminal Court ruled the raid was unlawful.
• Journalist Richard Medhurst has had a terror investigation hanging over his head since being detained at Heathrow Airport in August last year and charged under section 8 of the Terrorism Act.
• Activist and independent journalist Sarah Wilkinson had her house raided in the same month.
• Dozens of members of Palestine Action are in jail facing terror charges, with the vast majority being held on remand where they may wait two years before going to trial.

Sources:

• [Leaked document]
• [New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties (NZCCL)]
• [Mick Hall in Context]
• [Substack]