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...Then they Came for me

Last weeks SRC saw the endorsement of Lindy Cassidy as candidate for Education Vice President of NZUSA, the donation of $100 to Rape crisis centre, and support for the principle of free bargaining between workers and employees.

It also saw the expression of VUWSA's opposition to the SIS Amendment Bill to which Salient has already given wide coverage. The discussion concerned itself with two main motions.

Moved Robinson/Wilson : That VUWSA condemns and expresses itself in total opposition to the SIS Amendment Bill, recognising it as a major part of the continued attack on the democratic rights and freedoms of New Zealanders.

Moved Robinson/Wilson : That should the SIS Amendment Bill become law, VUWSA resolves to actively contravene clauses 6 and 7 relating to the publication of information about the SIS, and to support any of its members acting in accordance with this policy.

Those speaking in favour of the motion pointed out that in 1966 there was an undertaking from the National Government that there would be no SIS agents allowed on campus. If agents did come on campus they would first identify themselves to the Vice-Chancellor, stating that they were to do university work only. In 1970 and 72, agents were discovered at Victoria, publicly identified and thrown out. The proposed Bill would make identification of SIS agents illegal — SIS agents could not identify themselves to the Vice-Chancellor and the Vice- Chancellor certainly would not be allowed to tell students. The Bill, it was said, attacks the basic principle of freedom. No longer would New Zealanders be able to identify and discuss the activities of the SIS, to tell friends they were under surveillance or prevent the SIS in any way from carrying on its spying and harrassment.

These activities were now legalised, on anyone who, under the definitions of the act, was "subversive" or "terrorist". The looseness of these definitions has been pointed out in Salient, but it was said at the meeting that by Muldoon's definition, overseas students who are 10% of Victoria's population are subversive. So 10% of this university's students would be instantly eligible for phone-tapping, mail-interception and general harrassment, courtesy of the SIS, while there are at present at least 35,000 public servants on SIS files, and under the Bill this number could only increase.

Patrick Mulrennan's objection to written Association policy of "law-breaking" relating to the second motion, was based on a claim that it would ruin our "public relations". We would have shown ourselves prepared to fight actively for freedom.

David Tripe and other speakers said that a massive and active opposition could render the bill unoperable. Unless we make our stand now, we will become puppets in a puppet state controlled by a little man at the top. We are the public, and what happens to public relations then? If we back down now, then soon there will be nowhere to back down to.

After discussion, some feeling that more than general support from the students 'association was needed, the second motion was ammended with the insertion of the words "morally and financially" before "support".

The motions were eventually passed, as was a further motion pledging support for a planned public meeting and march organised by the organisation against the Security Intelligence Service Bill".

If you feel that this legislation does not concern you, and that you are being brainwashed by a hoard of anarchists — irresponsibles, making policy which you find objectionable, you are not certainly not alone, (read on).

"First they came for the communists . . . and I did nothing because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews and I did nothing because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade Unionists and again I did nothing because I wasn't a trade Unionist. Then they came for the Catholics — I did nothing because I was a protestant. Then they came for me ... . and by then it was too late".

— Pastor Martin Niemoller, referring to pre-war NAZI Germany.