Voxy News (New Zealand)
September 28, 2011

Instructions given by the Speaker of the House of Representatives that stopped Falun Gong protestors from quietly unfurling a protest banner is an attack on New Zealand’s democracy, Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said today.

Falun Gong protestors on Parliament grounds but behind a security cordon were instructed by Parliamentary security they were not allowed to unfurl their banners on the orders of the Speaker, Dr Lockwood Smith. The Falun Gong protestors were at Parliament during a visit by China’s Vice Premier, Hui Liangyu, to raise awareness of human rights abuses in China.

“New Zealand is a free and democratic country, and free speech is a fundamental part of our democracy,” said Dr Norman.

“Parliament’s grounds should be a place where people can express their opinions and wave a placard should they so wish.

“The protestors were not even close to China’s Vice Premier.

“The Speaker should immediately re-evaluate his instructions to Parliamentary security and apologise to the protestors for what I consider is an infringement of their right to peaceful protest.

“We should also be mindful that, while we want good relations with China, these should not come at the expense of democracy and human rights in New Zealand,” said Dr Norman.