{"id":1470019,"date":"2024-01-29T09:34:52","date_gmt":"2024-01-29T09:34:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asiapacificreport.nz\/?p=96331"},"modified":"2024-01-29T09:34:52","modified_gmt":"2024-01-29T09:34:52","slug":"ceasefire-now-protesters-march-on-nz-naval-base-demand-luxon-upholds-israel-genocide-order","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2024\/01\/29\/ceasefire-now-protesters-march-on-nz-naval-base-demand-luxon-upholds-israel-genocide-order\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Ceasefire now\u2019 protesters march on NZ naval base, demand Luxon upholds Israel genocide order"},"content":{"rendered":"
Asia Pacific Report<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n About 500 protesters marched through the heart of Auckland’s tourist suburb of Devonport today to the Royal New Zealand Navy base, accusing the government of backing genocide in the Middle East.<\/p>\n Demanding a “ceasefire now” in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza that has killed almost 27,000 Palestinians<\/a> — mostly women and children — so far, the protesters called on the New Zealand government to scrap its support for the US-led Red Sea maritime security operation against Yemen’s Houthis<\/a>.<\/p>\n Speakers contrasted New Zealand’s “proud independent foreign policy” and nuclear-free years under former Labour prime ministers Norman Kirk and David Lange with the “gutless” approach of current Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.<\/p>\n Among many placards condemning the New Zealand government’s stance, one read: “We need a leader not a follower — grow some balls Luxon”. Others declared “It is shameful for NZ troops to aid genocide”, “Hands off Yemen” and “Blood on your hands”.<\/p>\n Led by the foreign affairs activist group Te K\u016baka NZA and Palestinian Youth Aotearoa, the march was organised in reaction to Luxon\u2019s announcement last week that New Zealand would deploy six NZ Defence Force officers to the Middle East in support of the US-led attacks on Yemen.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are appalled our government is dragging New Zealand into a new war in the Middle East instead of supporting diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza,\u201d Te K\u016baka spokesperson Dr Arama Rata said.<\/p>\n\n