March against racism proceeds

By MONIQUE DEVEREUX South Island correspondent

An anti-racism march will go ahead as originally planned in Christchurch tomorrow, ending with an outdoor rally for people to talk about their experiences of racial attacks.

Organiser Hock Lee said yesterday that there were some "delicate issues" to work out with the city's mayor about "what the rally was actually for" but he was confident the differences would be solved by tomorrow.

Mr Lee, a lawyer, organised the event after a young Christchurch student revealed she had been violently punched by a stranger on a city street, then left crying and in pain as pedestrians walked around her.

Mr Lee said the attack was "the final straw to make me do something". He also had been subjected to racial taunts and abuse since he and his family moved to New Zealand from Malaysia almost three years ago.

But planning the march has stirred up controversy in the city.

The Mayor, Garry Moore, last week asked Mr Lee to cancel out of concern for the city's image. He supported an indoor "harmony" rally, involving a range of ethnic groups.

"But this is a rally with a specific purpose and I am talking to the mayor further to make sure there is no confusion," Mr Lee said.

Extremist right-wing group the New Zealand National Front has said it will hold a counter-rally at the same time as the march.

The National Front is a quasi-political movement that wants Asian immigration stopped and sex offenders executed.

Acting Inspector Stu Munro said police would have an "adequate" presence along the march route.

"The people organising the march have permission from the Christchurch City Council and we will be there to uphold their right to legitimately protest. We want this to be a safe march for all concerned."

The police response was "the best news so far" for Mr Lee.

"Maybe they are starting to get what we are talking about."