Minto accuses police of seeking to destroy megaphone

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Tue, 12 Jan 2010 2:15p.m.

Police arrest protester John Minto outside the ASB Classic tennis tournament venue in Auckland (NZPA)

Police arrest protester John Minto outside the ASB Classic tennis tournament venue in Auckland (NZPA)

Protest leader John Minto today said police were seeking an order to destroy a loudhailer he used outside the ASB Classic tennis tournament venue in Auckland last week.

He described the move as "pathetic" and said it would be opposed.

Minto was speaking after appearing in Auckland District Court where he and seven others pleaded not guilty to charges they faced for their part in four days of demonstrations against Israeli Shahar Peer's presence at the tournament.

They were remanded on bail to reappear on February 9.

Minto, spokesman for Global Peace and Justice Auckland, has been charged with disorderly behaviour and obstructing police.

The others face similar counts, while one of them, Palestine Human Rights Campaign spokesman Janfrie Wakim, has also been charged with assault.

"I think we have a strong case," Minto said.

"This was annoying behaviour, we accept that, but it was not disruptive. Dissent is the oxygen that a democracy thrives on and this is an attack on that."

Despite the protests, Peer made it through to the semifinals, before losing to eventual title winner Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium.

NZPA

 

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Comments

13 Jan 2010 09:56p.m.

dude wrote:

Id like to smash Minto's megaphone and then spoon feed it to him, see how much he wants it then.

13 Jan 2010 04:40p.m.

Huang wrote:

A bunch of bullies! Don't they have to work like everybody else!

13 Jan 2010 10:57a.m.

cynical wrote:

Steve - what is your address, so I can come and explain it to you, or has Minto and the likes of you bought up all the megaphones?

13 Jan 2010 09:27a.m.

steve wrote:

@cynical: how did they affect the rights of others? Is the ability to watch tennis in peace & quiet a basic human right now? I must have missed that UN resolution. @dave: isn't it more arrogant to dismiss Minto & his "rabble" out of hand rather than to consider the issues?

12 Jan 2010 04:44p.m.

dave wrote:

taking the loudhailer is "pathetic" he says as he squabbles right back. Some people would have liked to have put it where the sun don't shine!

Minto thinks all this feedback is about his cause but it is actually about Minto and a backlash about what he is doing. An absolute arrogant rabble.

12 Jan 2010 03:55p.m.

cynical wrote:

I think that Police should be seeking far more, such as a prosecution for that pathetic band affecting the rights of others, and the bullying of a tennis player. The loudhaler is just a little too obvious, as protests outside Courtrooms will then be fair game forever. But so will bullying and harassment, if it is not nipped in the bud.
If Minto does not get charged with it, the legal precedent will be set by this example.