▲ Members of the Maori community march in Wellington against a law that seeks to reform the country’s founding treaty between this ethnic group and the British crown.Photo Afp

Ap and Europa Press

La Jornada Newspaper
Thursday, November 21, 2024, p. 23

Wellington. Some 55,000 protesters crowded the streets of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, in rejection of a law that aims to reform the country’s founding treaty between the Maori and the British crown.

The clashes between the crown and the native inhabitants of the countries of Oceania became relevant since the indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe shouted to King Charles III: You committed genocide against our people, this is not your land. You are not my kingwhile she was evicted from the room.

Between red, black and white flags that claim Maori sovereignty, and Samoan, Tongan, indigenous Australian and even Palestinian insignia, accompanied by the sound of Maori haka, rhythmic chants, the protesters denounced a controversial bill that redefines rights of the indigenous New Zealand population, mainly Maori, reported The New Zealand Herald.

For the Maori population, such proposed legislation presented by David Seymour, leader of the libertarian ACT New Zealand party, which is part of the coalition government, would cause a constitutional crisis and dilute indigenous rights, a population disadvantaged in almost all social and economic metrics. , despite attempts by courts and legislators in recent decades to rectify inequalities caused largely by treaty violations.

The founding agreement dates back to 1840.