Protesters against New Zealand govt snooping ‘misinformed’ – PM
The thousands of people who marched in protest of a new bill that would grant the New Zealand’s government sweeping spy powers, were misinformed, Prime Minister John Key has said playing down the nationwide protests.
The thousands of people who marched in protest of a new bill that would grant the New Zealand’s government sweeping spy powers, were misinformed, Prime Minister John Key has said playing down the nationwide protests.
The surveillance bill, which is expected to be passed in parliament, would allow New Zealand’s Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) free rein to listen in on citizens’ phone conversations.
Kiwis took to the streets on Saturday in 11 cities and towns in what has been dubbed as an “uphill battle” to stop the bill from going through.
Key, however, argued on Sunday that the turnout was “quite light” and insisting that those involved in the mass demonstrations were ill-informed or had a political agenda.
"At the risk of encouraging them to have more protests, I would have actually said those numbers were quite light – it wasn't anything like what we saw for mining or anything else," he told TVNZ's Q&A program on Sunday.
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NEWS. com. au
Spy power protesters misinformed: NZ PM
- AAP
- July 28, 2013
THOUSANDS of people who took to the streets in 11 centres around New
Zealand to protest against new spy agency powers are either politically
aligned or misinformed, Prime Minister John Key says.
A
march down Auckland's Queen Street on Saturday attracted an estimated
2000 people, while in Wellington more than 500 people walked to
parliament to protest against the spy bill.The bill will make it legal for the foreign-focused Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB)to spy on New Zealanders on behalf of the Security Intelligence Service (SIS), police and Defence Force.
"At the risk of encouraging them to have more protests, I would have actually said those numbers were quite light - it wasn't anything like what we saw for mining or anything else," he told TVNZ's Q&A programme on Sunday.
"Secondly, a lot of people that would go along would be either A, politically aligned, or B, with the greatest of respect, misinformed."
Independent MP Peter Dunne has agreed to support the bill in exchange for changes, giving the government the one-vote majority it needs to pass.
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‘Imaginary threats’ justify New Zealand spy bill – Dotcom
Published time: July 26, 2013 10:53
Edited time: July 27, 2013 08:47
Edited time: July 27, 2013 08:47
The internet tycoon spoke out against the new surveillance bill that would grant the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), new powers to eavesdrop on telephone conversations. He made a speech at a meeting of hundreds of academics, civil libertarians and lawyers opposing the legislation.
In a fiery critique of the proposed law, he questioned why it was necessary and how it could be justified given the violation of citizens’ rights.
“What is the imaginary threat to New Zealand that is keeping Prime Minister John Key awake at night? What is the emergency that should necessitate such a radical termination of our basic rights and grant the government more powers to spy on us?” said Dotcom in footage of the meeting on Thursday obtained by RT's video agency Ruptly.
He went on to claim that NSA Director General Keith Alexander came to New Zealand after it came to light that the GCSB were spying on Dotcom.
“During his stay here in New Zealand he brainstormed with the GCSB what to do about the scandal. I assume that only an American general could have had the idea to push for new spy legislation granting incredible new powers to the GCSB under such circumstances,” he posited.
Dotcom accused the government of dishonesty and attempting to cover-up the surveillance of his family when the reports went public.
“What can New Zealanders expect from the GCSB when rules are broken without any penalty or consequence?”
Last January New Zealand police stormed Dotcom’s mansion in Auckland, seizing digital material and other assets. A judge later ruled that the raid was illegal. Since then Dotcom has accused the New Zealand government of collaborating with the US secret services.
Washington has issued an extradition order for German-born Dotcom on charges of racketeering, fraud, money laundering and copyright theft in connection with video-streaming site MegaUpload. Dotcom is adamant he is innocent.
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