‘Peaceful’ sect members gaoled for bomb plot
(New Zealand Press Association —Copyright) WELLINGTON, November 14. Four young members of a meditation sect, the Ananda Marga, including its New Zealand leader, were sent to gaol by Mr Justice Beattie today for conspiring to blow up the Indian High Commission and for kidnapping a policeman.
The four, whose counsel described them as dedicated to peaceful means of advancing their cause, also faced charges of burglary and car conversion.
Counsel for one of the four said that the Ananda Marga movement, which is based in Denver, Colorado, was not an urban guerrilla organisation. Three of the group came from outside New Zealand, one of them, who his Honour said formed the plan to blow up the high commission, having arrived in September.
Deterrent Passing sentence in the Supreme Court at Wellington, his Honour said that apart from efforts some years ago to blow up an ammunition dump and the Supreme Court building in Auckland, New Zealand had been free from “this type of activity, indulged in by zealots in other countries.” “I will do my part to see that like-minded persons leave us alone.” James John Perkoulidis, aged 22, an indent clerk (said to be the planner of the plot) was sent to gaol for four years for conspiracy, kidnapping. burglary, unlawfully taking a police car, and getting into the car. His Honour recommended deportation. David John Field, aged 20, a storeman, was sentenced to three years and a half for conspiracy, kidnapping Constable Neville Arthur Sawyer, unlawfully taking the car, and unlawfully getting into the car. Amaratlal Patel, aged 25, a fitter and turner, was sentenced to two years and a half for conspiracy, kidnapping. burglary, unlawfully
getting into the car, and unlawfully taking the car. Concilio Fabrizio, aged 24, who described himself as leader of meditation, was sentenced to two years for conspiracy. His Honour recommended his deportation. On behalf of Fabrizio, Mr J. R. Billington said that the movement to which he belonged was not the type commonly described as an urban guerrilla organisation. For the last four years Fabrizio had served humanity in India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines m human welfare, education, hospital, and relief work.
His presence in New Zealand was not motivated by any political or subversive plan, counsel said.
For Patel, Mr B. E. Buckton said that the kidnapping was obviously committed on the spur of the moment and the constable was not harmed.
| Patel had personally been against the idea of violence, and had led a useful life of charity and assistance to others. For Field. Mr J. A. Tannahill said that he was the youngest of the group sand the only one of New Zealand origin. He joined the movement in June, and .had become completely mesjmerised by the organisation. For Perkoulidis, Mr C. jAnastasiou said that he was i not a fanatic, and his bej haviour on the night in question was totally uncharacteristic. He was dedicated to peaceful modes of advancing I his cause. Inept plot The Crown Prosecutor (Mr J. H. C. Larsen) said that I most of the general statements made by the defence 'counsel applied to any ideologically inspired terIrorists. It was probably the first time that a New Zealand court had had to deal with serious offences, including kidnapping a policeman, perpetrated to achieve political [change in another country.
11 The ineptitude of the! , actions made them n,o less ’ dangerous and they called; i for deterrent sentences, Mr! Larsen said. Passing sentence, his ; Honour commended Con-, > stable Sawyer and Constable: r S. Moran for their devotion 1 to duty in “a nasty situal tion.” His Honour said that . Fabrizio was the acknow- . ledged leader of the Ananda ; Marga movement in New . Zealand, and it was a pity he . did not stick to serving . humanity. ) The jury had recommended > leniency for Patel on the ’ kidnapping charge as his role in that had been minor. His Honour formed the opinion that he was weak, - and had allowed himself to [ be led by the others. $400,000 project.— Another • 35 rooms would be added to - the Tourist Hotel Corporation’s Rotorua International t Hotel, at an estimated cost of I $400,000, making it the i second largest hotel in the ; chain, the Minister of •Tourism (Mrs TirikateneI Sullivan) said vesterday.— UP. A.)
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