Anti-racism rally undercut by extremist group

By MONIQUE DEVEREUX South Island correspondent




Christchurch's faded reputation as a redneck city has been rekindled by claims of increased racist attacks on Asian residents.

In an effort to promote harmony between races, Christchurch lawyer Hock Lee has organised an anti-racism march for Saturday.

But the city's mayor, Garry Moore, will today ask Mr Lee to cancel, fearing a right-wing extremist group would use the occasion to gain worldwide publicity.


He was also concerned for his city's reputation. "How will this be perceived in Beijing or Kuala Lumpur or Singapore? This will be seen as proving Christchurch is a racist city."

Mr Moore would not comment further until after today's meeting.

Mr Lee said there was growing racist behaviour in Christchurch, and city leaders were turning a blind eye.

Most residents were not overtly racist but a small group was exploiting a general sense of intolerance against other ethnicities.


When the rally was first mooted, Mr Moore said he would take part, but on Friday night he sent Mr Lee an email asking him to cancel because the march could become a "powder keg".

He referred to the "particularly unpleasant" New Zealand National Front, which plans to stage a counter-protest at the same time as the rally. The group could get worldwide television coverage "for their own sinister ends".

Christchurch-based National Front director Kyle Chapman has promised a peaceful counter-protest but said the group would be expressing their strong views against immigration.

"If people want to be racist, they have the right to be racist in their own country. All the do-gooders just want everyone to get along, but it's not a fact of life for many people," he said.

"If Asian people don't fit into our culture, they are going to be abused."

Mr Lee has had nothing to do with the National Front before now, but as a student in England he had seen others like them. He was confident the police here would ensure nothing untoward occurred.


This morning he will tell Mr Moore he needs to have more confidence in the system himself but will also be asking for the mayor's help.

"They [National Front] have no moral basis whatsoever to have their own march and no legal basis. I booked the Cathedral Square, I booked the march route, I have followed procedure - on what basis can they be there?

"The best thing Mr Moore can do is convey that message to them, that they are illegally there."

Mr Lee originally had backing from other ethnic groups but last night the Muslim Association of Canterbury withdrew its support, saying a longer-term approach to solving issues of racism against Asians was needed.

ATTACKS ON ASIANS LAST YEAR:

* Chi Phung, a 23-year-old student who moved to New Zealand from Vietnam six years ago, was punched in the chest by a stranger as she walked along Colombo St.

"He punched me under my breast so hard that I fell down and I cried for about 20 minutes. Nobody in the crowd stopped to help."

March 2004:

* A 20-year-old Asian student was bashed with a rock when she was walking home through an Addington industrial area.

* Four Asian girls outside the Bus Exchange were harassed by two white girls after they refused to hand over their bus money. Two of the Asian girls were punched.