Press Release

MANA Vice President John Minto

MANA Vice-President in Court

14th May

Mana Vice President John Minto is in court again today (Auckland District Court) on two charges of obstructing police during protests against the removal of state houses from Glen Innes.

“I know there will be people who think – there goes Minto causing trouble again – but the truth is the police specifically targeted me for arrest each time – the most recent being last Thursday.”

“I have not had a conviction for more than 20 years but in the last three weeks I’ve been the victim of two gratuitous arrests – and in one case received fractured ribs into the bargain”.

“The problem for the Glen Innes community is the protests take place well after 9pm which is when the state houses are moved out. Under cover of darkness and without media present the police action has been gratuitously thuggish:.

In the last three weeks we have had:

· Two people taken by ambulance to hospital for treatment as a result of police action – one with a seizure and an elderly man with a suspected heart attack

· One case of fractured ribs (myself)

· Numerous bruised and battered protestors – most being local Glen Innes women

· 10 arrests

“We hope the media takes a greater interest in the destruction of Glen Innes and the community’s resistance which has been heroic. On Monday of last week for example some 200 locals turned out to protest the removal of one house”.

“The best protection these people have is a media presence to report on a significant event as well as to keep pressure on the police to behave in a more civilised manner”.

ends

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