#mfat

As many of our supporters know, Justice for Palestine were in the news in May when the Mayor of Wellington City, Andy Foster, overruled a request from Councillor Tamatha Paul, that the Michael Fowler Centre be lit in the colours of the Palestinian flag. The request came from Councillor Paul on the occasion of Nakba Day, the date in the Palestinian calendar – May 15th – commemorating the violent expulsion of over 700,000 Palestinians from their homes and villages by Zionist militias in 1948. 

Justice for Palestine invited Councillor Paul to a cultural event to mark the Nakba. In response, she proposed that Wellington City Council make a gesture of solidarity with the Palestinian people, as they had when the Michael Fowler Centre was lit in the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag. But Mayor Foster refused.

The Mayor was acting on the advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) who recommended against the light display since “such an act could be construed as an act of state recognition” and “is likely to evoke criticism from the Israeli Embassy, and a fairly diverse group of supporters of the state of Israel”. An MFAT official later acknowledged the Ministry should not make recommendations to council’s but limit advice to “providing New Zealand’s international policy settings on an issue”.

Oh! Well it’s a story (maybe book?? Hopefully??) that I’m writing called M.F.A.T! Or, Mutes Fighting Against Twisted! It’s a Utopian future following a brief, but brutal World War Three! During the war, the radiation in the newly made Perditionis Missiles killed most people. However, a few thousand survived worldwide! These few people developed one of four powers (or one secret, rare power) based on their baseline mindset! Otherwise classed as Mutes! Each type of Mute can be distinguished by eye colour too, but there are other powers not known to the general populace… And two organisations are constantly at war to either keep these powers secret, or shame these outcasts for the freaks they see them to be…

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/07/03/rizalman-arrested-upon-arrival-new-zealand/

Rizalman to be arrested upon arrival in New Zealand

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3:

Malaysian High Commission official Muhammad Rizalman Ismail will be arrested when he arrives in New Zealand in accordance with its law.

According to The New Zealand Herald, Wellington district police commander Superintendent Sam Hoyle said police were working closely with the Crown Law Office of New Zealand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) on the legal process and logistical details relating to Muhammad Rizalman’s return.

“This is a unique and complex legal situation, so careful planning is required and no date for his return has been set.

“When someone with a warrant to arrest arrives in New Zealand, the person is met at the border by police, arrested and taken to the nearest court.

“The court can then remand the person in custody, release him at large or release him on bail, with or without conditions. At this time, the next hearing date is also set.”

He said police were continuing to support the victim and had kept her informed throughout the process.

MFAT chief executive John Allen had recently offered to resign over his ministry’s mishandling of the case.

However, Minister Murray McCully declined the offer, but expressed his anger over his officials’ mistakes that led to public embarrassment for the minister and Prime Minister John Key.