Scuffle disrupts peace rally

Press, 21 April 1986, Page 15

Scuffle disrupts peace rally

PA Wellington A peace rally in Pigeon Park, Wellington, became rough on Friday evening when an American tried to speak in defence of United States bombing of Libya. More than 150 people had gathered to hear a peace campaigner, Owen Wilkes, the Maori activist, Dun Mihaka, and others condemn the United States attack. When the unidentified American man began to speak in response, he was cut short and caught in a scuffle with Mr Mihaka over use of the public address system, which Mr Mihaka had provided. The American appeared uninjured, and urged protesters not to follow Mr Mihaka. Mr Mihaka later led a march to the war memorial, followed by more than. 100 people

chanting, “We don’t want your Libyan war.” The rally was organised by a coalition of peace and solidarity groups. A coalition spokesman, the Rev. Don Borrie, said he was concerned that the United States claimed a right to establish itself as a global police force.

“If this kind of action is done on behalf of ‘civilised nations,’ do we really want to be linked with it?” he said. “Those who remember Vietnam may well feel uneasy about mass bombing of cities involving civilians.

“The coalition calls on people to join the rally to show their condemnation of United States terrorism.”

Mr Wilkes described the bombing as senseless, and questioned the evidence President Reagan claimed to have of Libya’s role in terrorism.