Protesters call for action outside Ilam MP Hamish Campbell’s Office

Source: Amy Riach / Canta.  

Calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and direct action from the National Party, local protestors rallied at the Ilam office of National MP Hamish Campbell, demanding that the National government “speak plainly,” and acknowledge the conflict in Palestine as a genocide.  

At noon, on Friday 11 July, the Ilam protest congregated on the roadside, before marching past MP Campbell’s office doors, chanting, and brandishing the Palestinian flag. The protest was organised by career activist, Shanti Ahluwalia on behalf of PSNA, (Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa)  

In a media release delivered the day of, Ahluwalia called for Campbell and the National Party to “finally” call the Palestinian conflict a genocide, “acknowledging that Israel is committing genocide could have far-reaching implications for New Zealand. Under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, New Zealand is obligated to act to prevent and punish genocide.  By acknowledging that Israel is committing genocide, New Zealand might no longer be able to support Israel’s military efforts.” 

The roadside protest was accompanied by shouts of “shame,” accusing the current National government of not caring, and crucially, of not acting. Ahluwalia says this protest is the first step of many, until “we are making inaction so uncomfortable, they have to take action”. 

But although many drivers honked and waved, cheering the protest on, not everyone supported the roadside activism. One driver shouted at undeterred protesters, to “just go home!”, and another discouraged bystander countered the “freedom for Gaza!” chants with her own protest anthem, “freedom for Aotearoa!”.  

A local Ilam resident, who says she is standing for rights of Māori, objects to the protest not because she stands with National, but because she claims, “we should fight our wars here, in Aotearoa, before we fight wars overseas”.  

“We've got a war happening here, on tangata whenua”. 

However, the Palestinian conflict is very close to home for many Cantabrians, and according to Ahluwalia, “there are a lot of Palestinians here in Christchurch, and many are very, very involved with this”.  

During the protest, Ahluwalia attempted to deliver Campbell’s office a letter, stating that this is "asking nicely" and promising that future action will greatly disrupt the National Party. Campbell was not present during the protest, and has not made a comment.  

Ahluwalia said he is “inspired by how much these folks care”, and has plans to continue “upping the pressure” on National. He claims the National government is poised to set “one of the most precedents ever: allowing the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. We are defending Palestine, but we are also defending our legal norms on the international stage.”