Anti-TPP demonstration in Wellington

Here are some comments from a witness who is known to me.

"Stood briefly with TTPA protestors from SHOW US YA TEXT.org today on way to and from Wellington Railway Station.

"Late morning: protestors standing on footpath outside Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade building, demanding they be given a copy of the draft TTPA text.

"Respectful, peaceful protestors,using drumming to highlight their cause - every New Zealander's cause - leaving space for passing pedestrians. At least 20 police, stationed around the building's main entrance.

"Early afternoon: protestors being pushed back by police as they attempt to move forward to enter the building. Non violent principles very evident. No provocation. Protestors by now also occupying Lambton Quay, and traffic diverted. 

"Stood with them for 10 mins Saw first of the protestors being pulled from the road to a waiting police van. 

"Atmosphere very sombre. Terrible that this has come to NZ. I salute those who stand, in passive resistance. A shameful act by the NZ govt."

TPP protesters arrested in Wellington

This is from the website of Show Us Ya Text

Last we checked, New Zealand is a democracy. That means the government owes us transparency in all they do. But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is hiding behind secrecy as it signs the TPPA. So we are giving them until August 31st to make it public… or we’ll come find it. 

Democracy doesn’t happen behind closed doors.

On Tuesday 15 September 2015, Show Us Ya Text will be converging on MFAT in Wellington to conduct a non-violent citizens search and seizure. We demanded the TPPA negotiating text be made accessible for public scrutiny by the 31st of August. This demand was not met, so now as concerned Kiwi citizens, we are coming to retrieve the text ourselves.

We’d love it if you came along to bear witness to our demonstration of democracy in action, right in the heart of our nation’s capital. We’re not sure exactly how it’ll go down, but your support will help buoy the spirits of the dozens of citizens coming from all around Aotearoa to express their democratic rights. 

We’ll be operating on the principles of non-violence. So while we’re serious about entering the building and searching for the text, we will not waver from these values and no violent behaviour is welcome at this event. Please, if you’re coming to bear witness and show support, respect these principles. All participants have undergone training specific to this non-violent direct action and the success of the action relies on the ability of the participants to work as a team and execute what they have trained for. To ensure the safety of everyone involved on the day, we cannot accommodate anyone who has not been through the prior training process

https://www.facebook.com/events/436965983161781/

Here is what Radio New Zealand had to say about it

At least 25 Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) protesters have been arrested after trying to force their way into a government building in Wellington.

A group of about 60 protesters had been outside the building since 10am.

Groups of two tried to push past police to get into the building for about two hours before the police began arresting people.

Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

Others had been arrested for sitting on the road and refusing to move.

The protesters, from the group Show Us Ya Text, tried to force their way into the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade building in Wellington.

Police arrest protesters at the demonstration.   Photo: RNZ/Alex Robertson

Photo: RNZ/Alex Robertson

They wanted documents about the proposed deal published and said democracy should not happen behind closed doors.

Police had pushed protesters from the ministry building entrance to the footpath, and about 20 of them had then sat on the street on Lambton Quay.

The protest group has previously occupied the Prime Minister's electoral office in Auckland and invaded Trade Minister Tim Groser's office.

Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

Show Us Ya Text spokeswoman Lizzie Sullivan was one of those arrested and said police were unhappy with the group's actions.

"We can't control the way that the police react," she said.

"All we know is that we're able to be strong and dignified and non-violent in our approach.

"If there is one thing worth getting arrested for, it's democracy."

Ms Sullivan said the public should be able to see the documents and make their own decisions.

"We've come down here because we've asked the Government countless times to release the text of the TPP and they have not obliged, so we're conducting a citizens-initiated search and seizure to attempt to enter the building and retrieve the text ourselves," she said.

TPP protesters block part of Lambton Quay, central Wellington.