Violent expulsion of anti-vaccine protesters in New Zealand | World | D.W.

New Zealand Police on Wednesday (03.02.2022) began a crackdown on anti-vaccine groups that have been protesting outside Parliament for 23 days, with clashes recorded and at least 36 people arrested. Three police officers were injured.

Hundreds of officers were detained since dawn in central Wellington and faced opposition from several protesters who used fire extinguishers, paints, racks and other household items against the authorities, police said.

Protesters also used a laser pointer against an officers’ helicopter flying over the area.

In the action used by Pepper Spray of the police to suppress the protesters, three officials were mild injured, both with abrasions and paint shot.

As a result of the operation, 36 people were arrested and 15 vehicles and several tents were removed and seized, New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coaster told Radio New Zealand at a news conference in Wellington.

Resistance and conflict

Coaster explained that the evacuation was due to the fact that “the crowd is now less focused on anti-government issues and more focused on the conflict”, as well as the need to “restore order” in the center of the New Zealand capital.

Inspired by the Canadian “Independence Caravan” movement, anti-vaccination groups have been occupying the area around Parliament since February, mainly protesting against the measures taken against the epidemic.

New Zealand and its government have implemented one of the toughest strategies against COVID-19 in the world, and despite some cases being detected, the tight border closure continues to some extent, accumulating about 100,500 infections and 56 deaths since the outbreak.

Meanwhile, the vaccination campaign was able to complete 95% of the target population.

Labor government Jacinta Artern, universally applauded for the administration of Govt-19 at the outset of the epidemic, began reopening international borders on Monday, but restricted to New Zealanders and residents only; Everyone with a visa expects it to reopen in stages in October.

Jesse (F, AB)