The deposition hearing for the group who are now being referred to as the 'Urewera xx' (the number has been changing as more people get arrested, I believe 18 is the final number who have been charged), has started in Auckland over the last few days. I have been following it from a distance, an old flatmate of mine, the partner of a close friend is one of those on trial.

Looking around the Internet I see it's well being covered by IndyMedia, both the New Zealand group and the global one. I see at least one solidarity website has sprung up. I would love to go to any sort of London solidarity protest for this if there is something, or help organise something if there isn't already.

For those readers who are not New Zealanders and haven't heard what this is about, there's good background reading here. I don't want to paraphrase this from a not thoroughly informed standpoint, but a group of largely Māori rights, peace and environmental activists and anarchists are being tried as "terrorists".

The New Zealand Election is coming up soon, and I read reports that at least one Labour MP had their office defaced in protests about the terrorism trials. Yes, I know this all happened under a Labour Government, and the Foreshore & Seabed issue that preceeded many of these problems. But honestly, does anyone really think it would be any better with a National Government? It would be much worse! I'm going to vote for the Greens anyway as I always do.

I can't even imagine how it feels for the people on trial and their friends and family. Treating people like terrorists is exactly the sort of thing that causes terrorism. People who protest against the stupid fucking Wellington inner city bypass, for example, are not terrorists! They are people who care about their city and their country. Being able to protest is paramount, not just for freedom of speech, but also because pushing that sort of activism underground is what causes it to become extreme.

I cannot believe this is happening in my country.