WAIHOPAI SPYBASE PROTEST
JANUARY 16-18, 2004
The public face of New Zealand’s role
as an American ally is the NZ military presence in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
But New Zealand’s most significant contribution to those wars, and any other American
wars, is the Waihopai spybase.
Waihopai is controlled by the US, with
New Zealand (including Parliament) having little or no idea what goes on there
(let alone any control).
The Waihopai electronic intelligence
gathering base is located in the Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim. First
announced in 1987, it is operated by New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) in the interests
of the foreign Powers grouped together in the super-secret UKUSA Agreement (which shares global electronic and signals
intelligence among the intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia
and NZ). Its two satellite interception dishes (shielded from public view by
giant domes) intercept a huge volume of telexes, faxes, e-mail and computer
data communications. It spies on our Asia/Pacific neighbours, and forwards the
material on to the major partners in the UKUSA Agreement, specifically the US National Security Agency (NSA). Its
targets are international communications involving New Zealanders, including
the interception of international phone calls. The codename for this – Echelon
– has become notorious worldwide, as the vast scope of its spying has become
public. New Zealand is an integral, albeit junior, part of a global spying
network, a network that is ultimately accountable only to its own constituent
agencies, not governments, and certainly not to citizens.
Waihopai does not operate in the national interests of New Zealand or
our neighbours. Basically it is a foreign spybase on NZ soil and directly
involves us in America’s wars. Waihopai must be closed.
*We invite people from around the country to join us for the
weekend of anti-war protest at this spybase. Come prepared for roughing it and
camping out. We’ve hired portaloos and a marquee. We provide the food. Bring
sleeping bag, groundsheet, a tent, torch, water bottle, eating utensils,
clothing for all weather, and $30 (or $15 unwaged) to cover costs. Absolutely
no open fires.
*How to find
our camp. Take Highway 6 out of Blenheim (the Nelson road); just before
Renwick, turn left onto to Highway 63 (the Nelson Lakes road). A few kms down
that, turn left down the Waihopai Valley road (winery on corner). The spybase
is about 10 kms up the valley (you
can’t miss it - 2 huge white domes). Our camp is about 1.5 kms past the
base on the left. Look for the ABC camp sign.
We need
people, money, and publicity.
I want to take
part in the weekend of protest
Name
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address
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Phone/Fax/E-mail
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I enclose $30
($15 unwaged) per person registration to cover costs -------
I want to make
a donation to the Waihopai campaign ---------------------------
I can help
with publicity in my area or network Yes/No ------------------------
I want to join
the Anti-Bases Campaign. Annual membership is $20 -------
CLOSE THE WAIHOPAI SPYBASE NOW!
Organised by
the Anti-Bases Campaign, Box 2258, Christchurch.
E-mail
cafca@chch.planet.org.nz www.converge.org.nz/abc
Make all cheques to ABC.
PUBLIC
MEETING
NEW
ZEALAND’S ROLE IN THE “WAR ON TERROR”
FRIDAY
JANUARY 16TH, 7.30 P.M
NATIVITY
CENTRE LOUNGE
Corner
of Alfred & Henry Streets, Blenheim
SPEAKERS
·
Murray
Horton, Anti-Bases Campaign
·
Keith
Locke, Green MP
·
John
Craighead, Marlborough District Councillor
This public meeting kicks off a
weekend of protest activity, both in Blenheim and out at the Waihopai spybase.
We invite the people of Marlborough to come along and hear our speakers talk
about: what the Waihopai spybase does; why it is New Zealand’s most important
contribution to all of America’s wars; the overall US/NZ military and
intelligence relationship in the context of the “war on terror”; the repressive
new laws that greatly erode our civil liberties; and the big picture of
America’s war mongering throughout the world.
And we invite you to join us at:
11.a.m Saturday January 17th, Seymour
Square, Blenheim, for a rally
2.p.m Saturday January 17th, Waihopai
spybase, Waihopai Valley Road, for information on the base and peaceful
protest.
Organised by the Anti-Bases Campaign, Box 2258,
Christchurch.
E-mail
cafca@chch.planet.org.nz www.converge.org.nz/abc