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Military ceremony briefly disrupted

By

DAVE WILSON

A handful of anti-frigate protesters briefly disrupted an Army Trooping the Colour ceremony in Christchurch yesterday. Their actions in Cranmer Square were described by the Army’s Chief of General Staff, Major-General Bruce Meldrum, as indicating the anti-military line of the Anzac frigates protest movement.

He was disturbed that the colour ceremony, officially honouring the birthday of the Queen, had been disrupted. Five people were arrested after the lunchtime incident. They will appear in the District Court on Wednesday on charges of disorderly behaviour. Soldiers of the Burnham-based 2/1 Battalion were on parade for the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieu-tenant-General John Mace, and General Meldrum, when protesters ran on to Cranmer Square. Soldiers standing on the sidelines of the ceremony had a brief tussle with the protesters before the police made arrests. The Trooping the Colour ceremony, and the firing of a 21-gun salute in honour of the Queen, went ahead as planned.

General Meldrum said he believed the anti-military movement in New Zealand was small, but getting more news media exposure than its support merited.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19890602.2.7

Bibliographic details

Press, 2 June 1989, Page 1

Word Count
182

Military ceremony briefly disrupted Press, 2 June 1989, Page 1

Military ceremony briefly disrupted Press, 2 June 1989, Page 1