Freedom of speech ‘under Govt attack’

Press, 26 August 1978, Page 4

Freedom of speech ‘under Govt attack’

Not since 1951 has the right to freedom of ex-; pression come under such sustained and severe Government attack, says the Canterbury Council for Civil Liberties. The council says that recent Government actions and announced intentions are attempts to persuade people that there are degrees of political freedom. In the last few weeks the Government has “constrained and planned to re-1 strict freedom of speech of: four sorts of foreign vis-! itor,” the council says. It has cited the following actions: Last month members of a delegation of North Koreans: were allowed to visit New I Zealand as private visitors,! but they were cautioned twice by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not to dis-( cuss political issues in pub-: lie. The Government had an-! nounced that the East Timorrepresentative of Fretilin (Mr J. R. Horta), would be admitted to New Zealand only on condition that he did not speak about his country in public. The Government had said that Miss Mary Benson, a black South African student-

due to arrive in November, ■ to study law, would be < admitted only on condition she did not speak about l South Africa in public. j The Minister of Immigra- ; - tion (Mr Gill) had made a i general policy statement i prohibiting all foreign' stu- ; dents from participating in ] political activities while in ; New Zealand. I The council says that when these four examples are added to the Prime Min- i ! ister’s “intemperate attacks 'on Mr Trevor Richards’sright to express his opinions ; on South Africa, it becomes clear that the Government has a very selective view of freedom of speech.” “For example, the Government has not tried to stop ! white South African students here on Rotary exchange scholarships from talking about South Africa,” ithe council says. : “In terms of the Rotary! -exchange scheme, students! are obliged to speak toi groups about their own! -country.” The Government has not tried to stop Indonesians and South Koreans talking i about the politics of their! respective countries it says. -I “Clearly, the Government!: - is attempting to censor un- ;

popular and critical political opinions,” the council says. It links these attacks, to proposed legislation on telephone tapping and drug abuse, the S.I.S. Amendment Bill, the Government's rejection of a privacy bill, the attacks on overstayers and: proposals to create toughter penalties for industrial action. “It is clear that New Zealand has the legislative machinery and apparently the political intention to! control freedom, political speech and thought. “All New Zealanders lose if t.his happens. We lose alternative political views and opinions, we run the risk of other Governments imposing political restrictions on New Zealand nationals studying abroad; and the traditional freedom and independence of universities lis also threatened.” The council has called on the Government to remove - political restrictions on the visits’ of Mr Horta and Miss Benson, and to “cease intimidation” of individuals i who dissent from its political point of view. - The council has urged all New Zealanders to defy any restrictions on freedom of speech.