[CTC] TPP protesters arrested in Wellington

[Arthur Stamoulis]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11513376

*TPP** protesters arrested in Wellington*

By Nikki Papatsoumas, Adele Redmond

A large group of protesters battling against the controversial Trans
Pacific Partnership trade deal have been arrested for trespassing in
Wellington this afternoon.

The protesters, from the Show Us Ya Text group, aimed to gain access to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade headquarters to seize the text of the
TPP.

Starting from 10am, the protest involved two people drumming as pairs of
protesters took turns trying to get into the building to chants of "let us
pass".

However, around 20 police officers created an arm-to-arm human barricade
outside the building, preventing demonstrators from entering.

After their attempts were unsuccessful, the group sat on the road, blocking
one lane of traffic along Wellington's main road, Lambton Quay.

Members of the public lined the streets and joined in songs and cheering
with the demonstrators as they were arrested one by one and taken to
Wellington Police Station.

Some sobbed as they were loaded into a nearby paddy wagon.

Protest spokesman Adam Craigie said 26 protesters, including spokeswoman
Lizzie Sullivan, had been arrested for trespassing.

He was unsure if any charges would be laid.He said the group's
"peacekeepers" were now waiting for protesters to arrive at the police
station, where they would offer support.

The group wore white vests saying "Show Us Ya Text" and carried signs
saying "think of our future", "why the secrecy John?" and "secret treaties
are not democracy".

Earlier today, before her arrest, Ms Sullivan said the protesters were an
ordinary group of Kiwis who were concerned about the closed-door
negotiations.

"We've asked the Government multiple times to release the [TPP] text and
they've refused so we've come up here to liberate it for all of New
Zealand."

Ms Sullivan said the TPP was the biggest trade agreement New Zealand had
ever signed, and wanted the text to be open to public consultation.

"We're afraid. We want to see it for ourselves.

"It seems odd they don't want us to see it. Maybe it's not in our best
interests and that's why they don't want us to see it.

"We're imploring the police to let us into the building and let us see it
for ourselves."

All protesters had undergone practical training in non-violent civil
disobedience, Ms Sullivan said.

Mr Craigie said shrouding negotiations in secrecy was an "insult" to the
intelligence of the thousands of Kiwis who protested against negotiations
in August.

Thousands gathered in main cities across the country to protest against the
TPP deal last month.

"We find it offensive. The Government has said we need to respect the
confidentiality of the negotiation process. We believe the Government needs
to respect the intelligence and judgement of the public.

"We hope that no matter what happens today that the Government will listen
to reason and release the document."

The group had informed police of their plans today, Mr Craigie said.

"We apologise if we have caused any inconvenience to the public of
Wellington. We just felt it was really important to come here today and
stand up for the key principals of democracy, which the Government has not."

Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826
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