‘Fringe’ protesters worry police

Press, 9 February 1982, Page 2

‘Fringe’ protesters worry police

PA Wellington The actions of the “lunatic fringe” may force the police to change their tactics and adopt more stringent control of demonstrators, said the Commissioner of Police, Mr R. J. Walton, yesterday. Mr Walton, who will meet the Minister of Police (Mr Couch) later this week to discuss the Waitangi demonstration, said it had become obvious that because of the conduct of the fringe element the police would have to review tactics. Mr Walton said any review’ was normal after big occasions, but stricter control at demonstrations would affect the genuine protester. Because of the throwing of missiles and incendiary devices, the police would have to consider keeping protesters well back, said Mr Walton. Some protesters were using the right to protest as an excuse to breach the law; police measures had to control the “worst element.” Mr Walton emphasised that those on the “lunatic fringe” were forcing the police to take more positive measures. He said tactics would be adapted to suit each occasion. He doubted that barbedwire or . rubbish-skip barricades, as used during the Springbok tour, would .be used to keep protesters back at demonstrations.

Rope barriers had been used to keep protesters away from the main activity during the Waitangi celebrations.

The police will also review their equipment to try and protect officers from incendiary devices. The Leader of the Social Credit Political League (Mr Beetham) said yesterday it had been a “poor show” that neither the Prime Mirlister (Mr Muldoon) nor the Leader of the Labour Party (Mr Rowling) had attended the Waitangi Day celebrations at the Treaty House. Mr Beetham, who attended the fuhetion, said it was the second year running that Mr Rolling had “failed to be present.” “While seven Government members attended, the only Labour member of Parliament present this year was the newly-elected member for Eastern Maori, Dr Tapsell. Not one European Labour member turned up.

“Labour’s commitment to the spirit and purpose of the treaty and to New Zealand’s developing sense of nationhood must surely come into serious question when it metes out such cavalier treatment to our national day,” said Mr Beetham. The skipper of the antinuclear protest yacht Pacific Peacemaker, Mr Bill Ethell, will lodge complaints with the British and Australian embassies over the police

action in boarding the vessel on Saturday during the celebrations.

The yacht had been moored near Waitangi, broadcasting over a loudspe’aker system protest messages during the evening ceremony. The police had searched his yacht without his permission and without a warrantee said. If a warrant was needed to search a house one should also be required to search a yacht. Mr Ethell said the policemen arrested five New Zealanders on board but none of the crew. They searched the yacht twice and removed loudspeaker and amplifier equipment that had been used to broadcast messages. He believed the charges against the five were later dropped. Nine protesters will appear in the District Court at Kaikohe on Thursday to face charges arising from the Waitangi Day demonstrations.

The police have not yet decided whether to charge the remaining 18 arrested on Saturday evening. Twenty-seven people were arrested during the often violent demonstrations outside the Treaty House grounds. It was reported later that five were to be charged with disorderly behaviour, two with possession of cannabis and two with throwing incendiary devices.