In New Zealand machine guns and “Macarena” to disperse the “caravans of freedom” – Liberation

Should we be talking about the New Zealand police flag? Unusual techniques were used on Sunday in Wellington in an attempt to disperse hundreds of protesters gathered outside parliament. Upon the decision of the target institution, the authorities used machine guns and attempted to stun the demonstrators by playing hellish music loudly, particularly. Baby SharkAnd Macarena where Mandy by Barry Manilow. But hundreds of demonstrators are inspired by The self-proclaimed Canadian Freedom CaravansThey danced in the mud to a tune intended to force them to disperse before retaliating with their favorite songs.

The demonstrators also had the right to destroy You are beautiful By James Blunt… following a suggestion from the British artist himself on Twitter. Again, it didn’t really work, as the protesters sucked the drink air.

Woodstock of the Antipodes might make you smile, but it wasn’t at all to the local police’s taste. Wellington Police Chief Cory Parnell opened up on Radio New Zealand: “These are certainly not tactics or methodologies that we endorse, and we would have preferred it not to have happened.” However, the officer does not call for a trap formation or club in the fist to suppress movement. “It’s not about […] to prevent people from going out [de cette situation]»says Cori Parnell, calling for organizers to negotiate and for protesters to move vehicles that continue to block streets.

Acts “shameful, embarrassing, and ineffective”

New Zealand police have not always taken this non-violent approach. On Thursday, an attempt to forcibly clear the lawns led to violent clashes and the arrest of more than 120 people, but it only buoyed the protesters’ resolve. Hence the change in police strategy, without reaching, therefore, the musical endings for Sunday.

The playlist didn’t just go badly in the police establishment. New Zealand’s political opposition did not hesitate to respond, generously blaming the Speaker of Parliament, Trevor Mallard, for approving the measure. “Mallard’s actions are disgraceful, embarrassing and ineffective.”And tweeted MP Chris Bishopfrom the National Party. Not only is Mallard’s actions immature, not only ineffective, but it has made a dangerous situation much worseDavid Seymour, leader of the opposition ACT party. His petty behavior emboldened the protesters.” For her part, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declined to comment on Sunday’s musical match.