[asia-apec 1282] APEC - NZ Media

[APEC Monitoring Group]

The Dominion, Wellington, NZ Tuesday September 7 1999

United against APEC summit
Helen Bain profiles the diverse bunch of groups and individuals who are protesting at the APEC leader's summit in Auckland

Farmers against APEC, students against APEC, dance ravers against APEC, artists against APEC, women against APEC, academics against APEC, immigrants against APEC, Catholic sisters against APEC... you name them, they're probably on the long list of the "antis" protesting at the APEC leaders' summit in Auckland.

It seems protesters enthusiastically took Prime Minister Jenny Shipley at her word when she assured them they will have the freedom to have their say against APEC.  The Who's Who of APEC antis is a diverse bunch:

APEC Monitoring Group - The group comprises individuals and groups opposed to free trade, such as Corso, Gatt Watchdog, Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa, unions and academics.  Its highest profile member is Aziz Choudry, the activist whose home was broken into by the SIS.

The group organised the broom and bucket-banging protest at the APEC women leaders meeting in June.  It plans a public meeting in Auckland on September 10 and a rally against APEC on September 12.

"APEC is part of the neo-liberal agenda that causes poverty, unemployment and undermines the social structure," says group organiser Leigh Cookson, who works for Corso.

'We see APEC as being very dangerous for communities."

Radical Society - A student protest group based at Auckland University with affiliations to other tertiary institutions.  It plans an anti-APEC hui in Auckland from September 14-15, bringing together students from around the country, and will take part in protests at the leaders' summit.

"APEC has been promoted as being in our interest, but it's just another tool for big corporations, at the expense of our communities," says spokeswoman Helen Te Hira, a liaison officer for the students' association.

Auckland Coalition Against APEC - A coalition of students, individuals, churches and unions which has protested throughout the leadup to the summit.  Its spokeswoman is veteran protester Sue Bradford.

The coalition plans a big demonstration on September 13.  Protesters are frightened by the fact that foreign bodyguards will be carrying guns, but "it's not our intention to invite confrontation", Ms Bradford says.   

Auckland Methodist Mission - Conveniently located opposite Auckland Town Hall, and therefore strategically placed for protest action, the mission will hold a vigil - fuelled by soup and toast - while APEC leaders enjoy their slap-up dinner.

The mission will also hold a seminar on November 12, looking at the impact of APEC.

Missioner Charlie Fenwick says the mission last year provided 23,000 meals to the homeless and hungry, and this year it provided 29,000.

"We believe that the policies that APEC espouses have something to do with the increasing poverty behind that," he says.

Other churches, particularly the Auckland Catholic Brothers and Sisters, also plan protests.

The Resisdance - The Comedy Club will host political satire and dance performances with an anti-APEC theme, followed by a dance party on September 12.

Organiser Pip Gibson says many people in the dance scene were sick of the traditional placards-in-the-street style of protest and wanted to do something that was more fun.

"We are unashamedly political - this does have a serious message - but we also love dance music."

Writers and Artists Opposed to APEC - This group's protests are focused largely on its Internet site, which features an open letter to Mrs Shipley.

Organiser, writer and leftish publisher Bernard Gadd says the group aims to inspire and support people to take action against APEC.

Andrew Barker - This Blenheim farmer hit the headlines earlier this year when he said police had threatened to lock him up for the duration of APEC.

Mr Barker had suggested the farmers' tractors could make matchsticks out of police roadblocks - but he has since ensured his continued liberty by promising to keep within the law.

He says there is a huge groundswell against APEC and a number of farmers will join his tractor protest at the leaders' summit.  The presence of United States President Bill Clinton and the imposition of its tariffs on New Zealand lamb exports will provide added focus to the protest.

Mr Barker also plans an alternative APEC meting in Blenheim - Bpec.  The protesting farmers do not have the backing of Federated Farmers' national office, but some branches have voiced support.

Trade Aid - This chain of 35 non-profit stores has distributed pamphlets and tombstone posters ("APEC RIP") nationwide, has lobbied the Government and staged protests in the lead-up to APEC.

Spokesman Steve Attwood says he has been involved in a "physical fracas" with some Christchurch businessmen who objected to being handed a pamphlet.

Trade Aid's contact with indigenous subsistence groups in the Third World countries has made it clear that many are severely disadvantaged by the free market, he says.

"In New Zealand in particular, we are promoting an extreme free market philosophy under which big business and the dollar are the only criteria."

Immigrant communities - Immigrant groups as diverse as Tibetans, Tamils and Albanians are believed to be planning protests, but are keeping them under wraps.  Other protesters believe that police and SIS visits to immigrant groups earlier this year have contributed to their silence.