Protesters in two minds on sabotage of GM trials

By JO-MARIE BROWN

Genetic modification opponents are divided over whether sabotaging field trials is the best way of protesting against them.

Anger at the Government's decision to allow GM experiments to be done in the field under tight conditions has prompted some groups to threaten to vandalise research projects and pull up GM crops.

But GE Free New Zealand spokeswoman Susie Lees said such threats compromised the position of ordinary New Zealanders opposed to GM by making all protesters look like extremists.

"We support the middle New Zealander and we solely use the democratic process ... We will not be looking at doing any non-violent direct action."

Ms Lees said she understood why some people wanted to sabotage field trials, as the Government had "totally disregarded" public opinion on GM.

"But there are other forms of protest such as marches, hikois and sit-ins," she said.

GE Free New Zealand would encourage its 3500 members to keep lobbying their local councils and MPs, declare their own properties GE free, and write submissions to the Environmental Risk Management Authority on GM research applications.

But other protest groups were vowing to attack future field trials.

"Green Gloves" campaign spokesman Logan Petley said civil disobedience had played an important role in campaigns such as the Springbok tour, anti-nuclear protests and the suffragette movement.

"At the time, the activities may be deemed illegal, but the people know that and they're willing to take that into their hands."

People caught destroying field trials could be prosecuted for wilful damage, but Mr Petley said any charges would be defended "to the hilt" on the grounds of protecting the public good and the environment.

No firm plans had been made to sabotage trials, but the group would organise attacks when necessary, he said.

Meanwhile, research organisations plan to increase security and say they will not be intimidated by GM protesters.

The president of the Association of Crown Research Institutes, Dr John Hay, said keeping the location of future field trials secret was one likely security option.

"The staff feel, through no fault of their own, that they're targets or victims caught in the middle of something which is a legitimate scientific activity," Dr Hay said.

Such threats were not a constructive way forward.

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