Protester: I am prepared to go to prison

Press, 10 February 1982, Page 4

Protester: I am prepared to go to prison

Nelson reporter A Springbok tour protester who refused to pay a $2OO fine and has subsequently refused to undergo periodic detention for not paying the fine, was convicted and remanded for sentence to February 16, when he appeared in the District Court at Nelson, yesterday. Bruce Douglas Dyer, aged 39, an administrator, of Gisborne. originally pleaded guilty to a charge' of entering the Hotel Rutherford on August 22 last year for purpose of taking possession and was convicted and fined $2OO. At the time he said he would rather go to prison than pay the fine. On January 22 he was sentenced to two months periodic detention for failing to pay the fines. He has not attended the centre and yesterday pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to attend the periodic detention centre.

In a statement distributed to the Court and the media. Dyer said he had initially pleaded guilty to the initial charge because his legal advice was that the charge was indefesible and because did not wish to appear dishonest. “While I entered the Rutherford in non-violent protest, 1 do not regard that I am guilty of a crime,” he said. He said he believed he could not appeal the conviction because he had pleaded guilty, but could appeal the sentence. “Because of the principle involved, for me to willingly accept any punishment the Court might impose

would nullify my stance in relation to the Government.” he said.

He did not regard himself above the law and did not wish to cause unnecessary disruption. “However the legal system is at the mercy of a Government of people who have proven themselves to be hypocrites, saying one thing and doing another.

“The present Government has shown itself willing to ignore human rights and manipulate the internal stability of this country solely for their own gain. I am prepared to go to prison to highlight their hypcrisy considering the legal system has not been given the power to grant amnesty." he said.