Diverse mix of protest actions

Protesters took to the streets of Auckland throughout the weekend, but the results were mostly uneventful, with just three arrests made.

The action yesterday began with a small, silent vigil outside Chinese President Jiang Zemin's hotel in Symonds St, over China's control of Tibet.

A block away, about 200 Auckland Taiwanese surged down Queen St towards the Aotea Centre with another message for him: "Hands off Taiwan!"

The waves of protest continued throughout the day: Peace in East Timor, human rights in Kashmir, sovereignty for Maori, religious freedom for the Kher Krom in Vietnam - all expressed their view.

In the late afternoon about 100 members of the New Zealand Tamil Society marched along Queen St to the town hall, calling for international aid for Sri Lanka.

An estimated 300 people marched in the afternoon from Albert Park to the Apec fence across the main entrance to the Domain, chanting anti-Apec slogans as they went. This rally brought together a wide range of protest groups, even those opposed to Metrowater.

On Saturday about 80 members of the Wild Greens, Apec Action and Feminists Against Apec, combined under the Eco-Nation umbrella to protest at Three Kings Park, in Mt Eden, against many Apec countries' economic policies.

A spokesman for Wild Greens, Nandor Tanczos, said: "Their free trade agendas will do nothing for our people. The reality is that the economic growth they talk about comes on the backs of workers and ordinary people."

About 200 Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) practitioners staged a peaceful demonstration in Victoria Park Market on both days. The group - banned in China - which combines elements of Buddhism, Taoism, mediation and breathing exercises, also stood outside the Carlton Hotel to attract the attention of the Chinese delegation.

Yesterday evening East Timorese resistance leader Jose Ramos-Horta addressed a crowd of about 500 people gathered in Queen Elizabeth Square.