新西蘭英語 259 Waihopai Valley protesters not guilty
Three men who damaged the Waihopai spy base near Blenheim were found not guilty last week. The jury took just two hours to decide they were not guilty.
In April 2008, these three protesters attacked the Waihopai base. They waited until it was dark then cut the fence and damaged the plastic dome which covered the building. The Waihopai base is part of the UK US satellite communications which can check communications like emails, phone calls and faxes. The protesters said that the Waihope base was connected with the war in Iraq and the reason they damaged the base was to save Iraqi children. They believed what they were doing was a lawful act. The judge told them it was wrong in law. However, the jury found them not guilty because they believed what they were doing was right.
The Crown, which means the government, will probably appeal this decision because they are afraid that many people will try to do similar things if they believe they are right to do it.
