From: CAFCA (Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa)
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
CLOSE THE WAIHOPAI SPYBASE NOW!
WHY? WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT?
Waihopai does not operate in the interests of New Zealand or our
neighbours. It is not accountable to Parliament or the people. It is exempt
from key provisions of the Privacy Act and Crimes Act. To all intents and
purposes, it is a foreign spybase, working for the US. Waihopai intercepts
and records your international phone calls. Waihopai is a waste of
taxpayers' money, which should be better spent on health and education.
What does Waihopai actually do?
The Waihopai electronic intelligence gathering base is located in the
Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim. First announced in 1987, it is operated by
New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) in the
interests of the foreign powers grouped together in the super-secret UKUSA
Agreement (which shares global electronic and signals intelligence among
the intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ). Its two
satellite interception dishes (shielded from public view by giant domes)
intercept a huge volume of telexes, faxes, electronic mail and computer
data communications. It gathers this data from our Asia/Pacific neighbours,
and forwards it on to the major partners in the UKUSA Agreement,
specifically the US National Security Agency. Its targets include
international communications involving New Zealanders. The second and newer
dish enables Waihopai to intercept satellite phone calls, including New
Zealanders' international calls. It spies on our neighbours, people such as
the Bougainvilleans and Timorese.
Nicky Hager's 1996 book "Secret Power" featured a foreword by former PM,
David Lange (who authorised Waihopai's construction). Lange says that
politicians and Ministers (including the Minister in charge of security and
intelligence agencies, who is always the PM) do not know what goes on there.
New Zealand is an integral, albeit junior, part of a global spying network,
a network that is ultimately accountable only to its own constituent
agencies, not governments, and certainly not to citizens.
Waihopai and Tangimoana must be closed immediately.
The GCSB must be abolished.
New Zealand must withdraw from the UKUSA Agreement and other international
intelligence agreements.
Anti-Bases Campaign, Box 2258, Christchurch, New Zealand
CAFCA
Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa
PO Box 2258, Christchurch
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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