The Waihopai spy base attack
I haven't blogged about the three men that deflated a dome at the Waihopai spy base until now, partly because I happen to know one of the three pretty well, as well as some of their public supporters.
But I'm pleased they`re bailed. They`ll be back in court on June 9. They should never have been behind bars in the first place as bail is a human right. According to s24 of the Bill of Rights everyone charged with an offence must be "released on reasonable terms and conditions unless there is just cause for continued detention". The only reasons for continuing to detain someone are a risk of non-appearance, a risk that they will offend further while on bail, or a risk that they will interfere with witnesses.
Given that none of these factors were apparent, and these men are currently legally innocent, why were they in jail for five days? Bail is a right - it's parole that is a privilege.
Labels: bail laws
4 Comments:
Dave
Don't go all gooey on us just because they're liberal activist Christians.
You'll be telling us that they have a big heart for the poor Palestinians against the Israeli mighty military machine.
"The only reasons for continuing to detain someone are a risk of non-appearance, a risk that they will offend further while on bail, or a risk that they will interfere with witnesses".
As they are activists prepared to break into proscribed areas they should be treated as if they might so a 5 day wait to make sure there wasn't a co-ordinated attack happening is very valid.
As it is they're up for all the damage and I hope their fines recoup all of the costs as a deterrence to others in the future.
The issue of penetrating a proscribed area is serious on the face of it and a custodial sentence for that alone would make a fair reflection for all Kiwis.
Standing outside with banners is acceptable but breaking in.
No way, that's jail time.
Lastly their faith has nothing to do with the laws they offended against, in fact they could easily be considered at the same level as Al Quaida sympathisers and helpers.
We hope that all those helping them are also brought to book for their parts and sentenced accordingly.
In our household we're looking forward to the sentencing filled with sadness for the children involved.
MikeNZ
As they are activists prepared to break into proscribed areas they should be treated as if they might so a 5 day wait to make sure there wasn't a co-ordinated attack happening is very valid
Any further attacks could have been prevented by setting bail conditins pretty much along the lines of their current conditions - breach of those is automatic custody until sentencing. Whats wrong with that?
Adrian has achieved nothing but creating a useless farce.
Now his wife and kids have to suffer the consequences from his actions, not a good look.
He's camped around Old Testament verses as if they're meant to be a manual for life, a classic error made my ideologists/fundamentalists.
If this was not his intention, it has certainly been the affect.
He’s deluded if he thinks he’s attacking the war machine - he’s just attacked every hard working tax paying mum & dad in the country who have to fork out and pay for the repair.
Dave,
if it really is the Adrian Leason that I used to know from the church in xxx, then that is a disappointment.
I'm just in the process of reading a book called "In the Messiah's Footsteps" written by a Messianic Jew, and he uses that verse as a descriptive part of the Millenial Kingdom also mentioned in Revelation 20. The author has a PH.D (I know) and a TH.D (I think) and has done lots of research in this area. This isn't to say that he is right and Adrian's interpretation of the verse is wrong, but you need to proceed with caution in terms of action in these areas. Unless you are placed in situations faced by, for example, Christians in North Korea, that require certain action, or unless God is clearly moving in the world in accordance with his prophecies, then I do not believe we are called to take power into our own hands. The same principle belong with abortion clinics too, even if you think they are giant slautering houses. Taking the power into your own hands ironically means you can end up being subject to the kingdom of darkness. Look at what Jesus did when the soldiers came to get him in the Garden of Gethsemene.
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