14 May 2014

Students angry about lack of progress on Independent Police Conduct Authority investigation, preparing further protest

Students are angry that nearly 2 years on from beginning an investigation into the police response to a protest against the National Party’s education policies, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has still not released its findings.

After students protested education cuts in the 2012 budget, Finance Minister Bill English taunted students saying "they need some Greeks to show them how to do it."

In response students took to the streets again on June 1st 2012 to continue protesting cuts to tertiary education, which included cutting eligibility for student allowances and increasing the loan repayment rate.

The police responded by arresting 43 students, provoking anger from students at the police’s extreme tactics.

A complaint by a group of law students to the Independent Police Conduct Authority led to an indepth investigation into police behaviour.

However, nearly 2 years on, the IPCA has still not released its report.

Student Guy Cohn says, “Whilst we wait for the outcome of this report, the National government continues to rely on the police’s use of intimidatory tactics to supress protest against its policies.”

However, Cohn says, “We will not be intimidated.”

On Thursday students will return to the corner of Symonds St and Grafton Road in Auckland, where the 2012 protests occurred.

They will live stream Bill English’s budget speech at 2pm and respond by preparing banners and placards for a protest planned for Friday.

On Friday at 11am students will rally outside the University of Auckland Library, before marching to Sky City where John Key will be delivering a post-Budget address.

At Sky City students will be joining a protest with Auckland Action Against Poverty, against the National government’s policies on welfare, education and housing.

“This government is not ruling in the interests of the poor, working people, or students; it is ruling in the interests of a small minority who are accumulating ever more wealth at the expense of everyone else,” says Cohn.

ENDS

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