Arrests at tense defence forum protest

Nine protesters were arrested during fraught scenes outside a Wellington defence forum.

As bus loads of forum attendees turned out to Westpac Stadium yesterday, a few hundred protesters blockaded the stadium entrances.

Among those detained and dragged away by police was a disabled man with a walking cane associated with People Against Prisons Aotearoa (PAPA).

He was there protesting prison operator Cisco’s involvement in the forum, dubbed a expo’’.

‘‘It was massively over the top,’’ Ti Lamusse from PAPA said. ‘‘It was brutal. He was telling them he was disabled. He was in pain – he was in agony.’’

As each busload arrived police blocked off the out-of-city lanes of Waterloo and Aotea Quay but, at one point, scuffling protesters and police broke into the still-open city-bound lanes and into traffic.

Earlier, about 300 anti-weapons protesters blocked every entrance into the stadium in an attempt to stop the scheduled Defence, Industry & National Security Forum.

‘‘weapons

Shortly after 11am police managed to get some attendees inside despite some protesters lying down in the middle of Aotea Quay. When one busload of delegates arrived, protesters surrounded it. The bus carrying the attendees mounted the pavement while police formed a human shield to create a walkway in. Subsequent busloads followed suit, each with tense clashes between police and protesters.

Earlier, the protesters said they had all-but halted the expo, despite police intervention.

Wellington police operations manager Inspector Neil Banks said that by 10.45am, five people had been arrested for obstructing a roadway. By 5.30pm, 15 people had been arrested for minor offences, with six released without charge. Of the other nine, eight were accused of obstructing a public roadway, and one of disorderly behaviour.

Among those protesting was Father Gerard Burns, who said the Catholic Church had a ‘‘very strong position about the production of arms and war’’.

‘‘I’m here to protest about weapons production and the destruction they bring to people, communities and the planet.’’

Assault accused appears

One of the men charged with assaulting two teenagers on a train while dressed as a Mr Four Square man has appeared in the Auckland District Court. Giuseppe Lyle Vassalini, of Christchurch, appeared for the first time yesterday morning, facing one charge of assault. The two teen victims were travelling from Auckland city to Avondale when five men, dressed in the costumes, allegedly attacked them on August 12. The men were travelling to the Auckland Darts Masters competition at the Trusts Arena in Henderson. Vassalini, 32, did not enter a plea and his case was transferred to the Christchurch District Court where he will appear later in the month. A 31-year-old Hamilton man has already been charged with indecent exposure and pleaded guilty. He will be sentenced in December. A 35-year-old Papamoa man was charged with assault with intent to injure and will appear in the Auckland District Court today. Police previously stated they were not seeking anyone else in relation to this matter.

Man critically injured at work

A man is critically injured after his legs were trapped at a workplace in Christchurch. Emergency services were called to a business in Riccarton, about 10.20am yesterday. Specialist stone supplier Stone and Tile Solutions said there had been an incident at the premises. A St John spokeswoman said the injured man was taken to Christchurch Hospital in a critical condition at 11am. A WorkSafe spokeswoman said the organisation. was making initial inquiries into the incident.

Whitebaiters face charges

Two whitebaiters face criminal charges for allegedly threatening a Department of Conservation staff member. They were among four whitebaiters from Christchurch at the Waitaha River, south of Ross on the West Coast, last Thursday, police said. A Department of Conservation (DOC) officer approached the group. Two whitebaiters allegedly threatened and stole a camera case from the worker, police said. Police found the suspects on Friday and charged them with disorderly behaviour and theft, Sergeant Andrew Lyes said.