Protests against arms conference in Wellington

This is going on right now. My friend, Kevin Hester is there. Alas, can only be there in spirit.

From Kevin - 11:00 am
TV3 are down filming- multiple arrrests by snatch squads, pretty rough!....100-ish attending. 20 arrests so far"

Protestors disrupt Wellington defence forum

Radio NZ,

17 November, 2015

About 150 people protesting against an annual New Zealand Defence Industry Association meeting blocked attendees from getting into the conference this morning.

A protestor stops a Defence Force member getting into the forum.Photo: RNZ / Kate Gudsell

The protest was organised by Peace Action Wellington which wants to disrupt the meeting and what it calls "the business of war".

Anglican Bishop of Wellington Reverend Justin Duckworth was at the protest to show his concern that the city is hosting the conference.

"I kind of think as Wellington is a peace city, for us to host a weapons conference is a total hypocrisy, so I'm here as the Bishop of Wellington to show my disgust that we would do this," he said.

Photo: RNZ / Kate Gudsell

Protestors are angry that Wellington City Council has allowed one of its venues to be used for the forum.

The forum's principal sponsor is Lockheed Martin, which, among other activities, makes nuclear weapon control systems.

An Australian man trying to attend the conference, and who wanted to remain nameless, said he supported people's right to protest.

"Everyone's entitled to their opinion in countries where they're allowed to have their freedom, but they've got to realise freedom was fought and won for.

"So good luck to them, let them have their opinion but they should recognise how they got it."

Peace Action Wellington spokeswoman Valerie Morse said the council must take a stand.

"We took the issue to the mayor, Celia Wade-Brown, but we didn't get a positive response from her," she said.

"We think it's appalling that in Wellington, which is a peaceful city, something like this would be hosted."

She described the forum as a 'weapons conference'.

"Lockheed Martin is very proud of its record and involvement in the Trident nuclear missile system, which it still manages in the United States.

"This is a conference of 200 of the world's largest weapons manufacturers and its purpose is for these companies to sell more weapons around the world."

But Defence Industry Association chairman Bernie Diver said talk of weapons would only be a small part of the forum.

"Lockheed Martin is a very large organisation - it predominantly provides logistics and warehouse management in New Zealand.

"This is not a weapons conference per se. It's about industry supporting Defence to allow it to be the best organisation it can be."

Wellington council has proudly boasted of its anti-nuclear weapons stance in the past.

To mark the 70th Anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima, the council on 6 August unanimously endorsed a statement by world politicians and religious leaders calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Council spokesman Richard Maclean said he did not think there was a conflict of interest.

Chief of Defence Force Tim Keating will be attending the forum.   Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

"We're certainly aware that there are people in the community who are unhappy with this event - which we have held at council venues for a number of years," he said.

"But we try to take a non-judgmental approach to events, as long as they don't break any laws."

Nevertheless, the council would look at whether it does the same again next year, he said.

Chief of the Defence Force Tim Keating will be at the forum.

Defence said it respected the rights of protesters, and believed the same respect should be shown to those at the forum and its organisers.

P.S. from Kevin Hester

Blockade the weapons conference.

Fantastic action against the military industrial complex.

I haven't been wacked by a cop for years. Can't say that again for at least a couple of years!