https://themilitant.com/2019/04/06/new-zealand-rulers-use-mosque-attacks-to-target-political-rights/
New Zealand rulers use mosque attacks to target political rights
By Felicity Coggan
Vol. 83/No. 15
April 15, 2019
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — In the two weeks since a rightist lone wolf
shooter killed 50 worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch, working
people in their thousands have turned out to rallies and vigils, looking
to express their opposition to racism and anti-Muslim bigotry. Close to
$16 million New Zealand dollars ($10.9 million) has been donated to
victims of the attack.
New Zealand Labour government is using rightist’s killing of 50 people
at two mosques to expand use of their political police and target
workers’ rights. Cops will now carry guns, including assault weapons,
above.
But the Labour-led coalition headed by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has
taken advantage of the widespread working-class solidarity to rally
political support behind the government and its banner of classless
“national unity.” The capitalist rulers she speaks for have seized on
the killings to move to threaten political rights, boost their police
and spy agencies and step up censorship.
On March 29 the central government, Christchurch City Council and some
local Muslim and Maori organizations hosted a national “We Are One”
service in Christchurch, attended by government delegations from
Australia and 58 other countries. Similar events were held around the
country. Ardern received a standing ovation from the tens of thousands
gathered, while hundreds of armed police, including police snipers flown
in from Australia, patrolled the park.
More than 250 detectives and other cops, including Australian police and
FBI agents from the U.S., are investigating the shooting rampage by
Brenton Tarrant, a self-proclaimed “eco-fascist” originally from Australia.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush announced March 25 that all front-line
police will now carry guns. Previously, New Zealand police carried
pepper spray, batons and Tasers, but not guns except in special
circumstances. They’re now wearing Glock pistols and either carry
semi-automatic rifles or have them ready in their police cars. Armed
cops have been deployed at public events across the country.
The same day Ardern set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry into why the
twin government spy agencies — the Security Intelligence Service and the
Government Communications Security Bureau — didn’t have Tarrant’s name
on spy watch lists in either New Zealand or Australia. Their goal is to
strengthen the powers of the capitalist rulers’ political police.
Government attacks political rights
Amid a barrage of media columns blaming the massacre on “white” people
and racism, guns or social media, the government is pushing to
strengthen censorship. This atmosphere is stifling political discussion
by working people.
Four days after the attack Ardern said she would never use Tarrant’s
name. Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has called for the judge at his trial to
silence Tarrant any time he “starts to rave about his ideology.”
Tarrant’s 74-page “manifesto,” posted online before the attack, has been
banned by Chief Censor David Shanks, making those who possess,
distribute or possibly even quote it liable to up to 14 years in jail or
a NZ$10,000 fine. Minister of Justice Andrew Little is fast-tracking
moves to strengthen existing laws on “hate speech” and making “hate
crimes” illegal.
Free speech on the internet is being targeted. Ardern welcomed a
decision by Facebook to ban posts, photos and content supporting “white
nationalism.” But who decides what ideas and isms should be censored?
Privacy Commissioner John Edwards called on Facebook to give the names
of people who distributed the video to police.
Groups on the middle-class left are pushing the idea that there is a
rise in racism and anti-Muslim prejudice in the working class. “Love
Aotearoa Hate Racism” held a rally and march that drew thousands in
central Auckland March 24 to “tackle all forms of racism on our streets
and in our workplaces.”
But an anti-Semitic rant by one of the speakers went unchallenged by
rally organizers. Ahmed Bhamji, chairman of a mosque in the suburb of
Mt. Roskill, claimed the gunman was funded by Israeli government
intelligence agency Mossad and “Zionist business.”
“These conspiracy theories are dangerous lies,” New Zealand Jewish
Council spokesperson Juliet Moses said. “They put the Jewish community
at risk.”
Ardern’s use of the killings to shut down political space has won
enthusiastic praise from the international liberal media in the U.S. and
elsewhere. “Ms. Ardern has shown the way,” said a March 21 editorial in
the New York Times.
The government-led promotion of “national unity” has led to other
setbacks for working people. Leaders of the Post Primary Teachers’
Association, the union that organizes high school teachers, called off a
nationwide strike planned for April 3, saying it was “the only choice”
after the attack.
In This Issue
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•SWP launches drive to expand reach of books and ‘Militant’
•Cease-fire can open political space in Israel and in Gaza
•New Jersey protest: ‘Driver’s license is a necessity for immigrant workers’
•Two-year-long anti-Trump ‘Russia collusion’ witch hunt fizzles out
•Ongoing trade rivalry between US and Chinese rulers ripples worldwide
Feature Articles •Woodfox shines light on prison abuse, solitary confinement
Also In This Issue •New Zealand rulers use mosque attacks to target
political rights
•Help us go over the top in $115,000 Militant Fighting Fund
•Kurdistan debate on road to women’s emancipation
•Iraq protests win firing of governor in ferry disaster
•Outcry hits attempt to gut Florida voting rights victory
•End solitary confinement! Voting rights for ex-prisoners!
On the Picket Line •Chicago hospital workers rally to protest short
staffing, low pay
Books of the Month •Fidel: ‘Without Che’s ideas, communism can’t be built’
25, 50 and 75 years ago
Letters
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