Posted on 16-12-2002

Waihopai Spybase Protest

JANUARY 24-26, 2003
New Zealand is one of George Bush’s most enthusiastic allies in
his apparently endless and borderless "war on terror". The public face of
that is the involvement of the SAS in the war in Afghanistan. But New
Zealand’s most significant contribution to that war, and any other wars
waged by our Western allies, is the Waihopai spybase. Even though the
Government is not so keen on following the US in its plans to wage war on
Iraq, Waihopai will play a key role in that too, because it is controlled
by the US, with NZ (including Parliament) having little or no idea what
goes on there (let alone any control).


The Waihopai electronic intelligence gathering base is located in the
Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim. First announced in 1987, it is operated
by New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) in the
interests of the foreign Powers grouped together in the super-secret
UKUSA Agreement (which shares global electronic and signals intelligence
among the intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ).
Its two satellite interception dishes (shielded from public view by giant
domes) intercept a huge volume of telexes, faxes, e-mail and computer
data communications. It spies on our Asia/Pacific neighbours, and
forwards the material on to the major partners in the UKUSA Agreement,
specifically the US National Security Agency (NSA). Its targets are
international communications involving New Zealanders, including the
interception of international phone calls. The codename for this –
Echelon – has become notorious worldwide, as the vast scope of its spying
has become public. New Zealand is an integral, albeit junior, part of a
global spying network, a network that is ultimately accountable only to
its own constituent agencies, not governments, and certainly not to
citizens.


Waihopai does not operate in the national interests of New Zealand or our
neighbours Basically it is a foreign spybase on NZ soil and directly involves us in America’s wars.
Waihopai must be closed.



*We invite people from around the country to join us for the weekend of
anti-war protest at this spybase. Come prepared for roughing it and
camping out. We’ve hired portaloos and a marquee. We provide the food.
Bring sleeping bag, groundsheet, a tent, torch, water bottle, eating
utensils, clothing for all weather, and $30 to cover costs. Absolutely no
open fires.


*How to find our camp. Take Highway 6 out of Blenheim (the Nelson road);
just before Renwick, turn left onto to Highway 63 (the Nelson Lakes
road). A few kms down that, turn left down the Waihopai Valley road
(winery on corner). The spybase is about 10 kms up the valley (you can’t
miss it - 2 huge white domes). Our camp is about 1.5 kms past the base on
the left. Look for the Pleiades Vineyard sign.


We need people, money, and publicity.


I want to take part in the weekend of protest



Name
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Address
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Phone/Fax/E-mail
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I enclose $30 ($15 unwaged) per person registration to cover costs
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I want to make a donation to the Waihopai campaign
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I can help with publicity in my area or network Yes/No
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I want to join the Anti-Bases Campaign. Annual membership is $20
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Organised by the Anti-Bases Campaign, Box 2258, Christchurch. E-mail
cafca@chch.planet.org.nz Make all cheques to ABC. ABC, Anti-Bases
Campaign, Box 2258, Christchurch, New Zealand www.converge.org.nz/abc