Professor Brady case: Heat on PM
Group urges Govt to guard academic freedoms after China researcher burgled
The Prime Minister has come under renewed pressure over the burgled professor case, with a coalition of academics and civil society figures calling for government action to safeguard academic freedoms and the safety of Anne-Marie Brady.
An open letter to be delivered this morning to Jacinda Ardern and Foreign Minister Winston Peters calls on the governing pair to “be transparent about the outcome of any investigation” and “make a clear statement in defence of academic freedom in light of the Brady case”.
“Be very clear that any intimidation and threats aimed at silencing academics’ voices in this country will not be tolerated.”
The letter was triggered by an ongoing campaign of harassment against the University of Canterbury professor — apparently linked to her work researching China’s foreign policy — that has included burglaries of her home and office and suspicions her car had been sabotaged.
Those co-signing the letter include Amnesty International New Zealand executive director Tony Blackett, investigative journalist Nicky Hager, AUT policy observatory director Julienne Molineaux, intelligence analyst Paul Buchanan and nearly two dozen academics from institutions ranging from Otago to Auckland.
The call for action has also drawn support from the Green and Act parties, marking the first time the affair has attracted the interest of Parliament.
Ardern said in February when news of the Brady burglaries broke that suggestions the crimes were a result of Brady’s work were concerning and, if substantiated, she would be “taking stock and taking action”.
In comments since she has declined to engage on the issue — including stalling for six months on a request to discuss it with the Herald
Be very clear that any intimidation and threats aimed at silencing academics’ voices . . . will not be tolerated. Open letter to Jacinda Ardern
in an interview — and has repeatedly said the case was a matter for police.
Police have made only one brief comment, saying in September that although it was a “complex case” they had “positive lines of inquiry” and Interpol were involved.
The secretive police national security investigations team, typically employed to handle terrorism and espionage cases, is understood to be working on the case.
Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman and Act MP David Seymour said they agreed with the thrust of the open letter and added their weight to calls for the Government to take action.
“Academic freedoms are paramount to the health of our democracy,” Ghahraman said.
“Any evidence of threats or intimidation aimed at undermining academic independence must be taken seriously by the Government.”
Seymour said the nine-month silence from the Government about the issue was concerning.
“It’s been far too long for an issue as important as academic freedom, and ultimately New Zealand’s freedom and sovereignty,” he said.
“It makes you wonder if Winston and Jacinda are living on their knees because they’re too scared to die on their feet.”