Update 5th Oct: Matt was at Christchurch Police Station last night where some supporters were able to see him. He has left for Auckland and some people were able to say good-bye and give him a hug. Matt is flying out of Auckland tonight at 6pm, being deported to L.A. The Immigration officer who is dealing with Matt is Richard Wilson. [ tel (03)353 1980 | mob 027 494 8674 | fax (03)353 1982 | email richard.wilson (at) dol.govt.nz ]

Matthew Aaron Siy, a Food Not Bombs activist, was arrested on Friday night in Dunedin for allegedly shoplifting a block of cheese and has been in prison since. Matt is originally from Fresno, California in the USA, and has been in Aotearoa for several months volunteering with Food Not Bombs.

The charge has now been dropped but the Immigration Department wants our comrade to be deported! His work visa recently expired and he was in the process of applying for a visitors visa before being arrested. His passport has now been confiscated.

This situation highlights the BULLSHIT that is immigration. The fact that the wealthy can buy property and come and go anywhere on this planet when ever they like and can afford food - FOOD IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE - while others starve! For capital, borders are fast coming down through so-called "free" trade agreements but for humans, the walls are only being thickened. Borders are only there to divide us and we must work to tear them down.

Matt was not allowed to make a phone call for the first 3 days. He still hasn't got a lawyer. We need to get an Immigration Lawyer urgently. Our only hope is for the Associate Immigration Minister Clayton Cosgrove to intervene and stop the removal order.

What you can do?

What people can do to support our friend is to phone, fax and contact Associate Immigration Clayton Cosgrove in support of Matt and request that the removal order be stop and to grant Matt a visa. Tell him that Matt is working as a volunteer for FNB helping feed the homeless and helping people in poverty.

Clayton Cosgrove's office number in Christchurch is (03) 352 2022 and fax (03) 352 0459. In Wellington (04) 470 6593 and fax (04)472 6791. Elsewhere, email ccosgrove (at) ministers.govt.nz, clayton.cosgrove.mp (at) xtra.co.nz and clayton.cosgrove (at) parliament.govt.nz. We need as many people as we can to contact the Associate Minister.

If you are in Dunedin please contact freemattaotearoa (at) gmail.com to get involved in supporting Matt in theses difficult times.

No Nations! No Boders! Freedom for all political prisoners!

Sample email:

Dear Associate Minister Clayton Cosgrove,

It has come to my attention that a volunteer for Food Not Bombs, an organisation that cooks free food for homeless and poor people, has been arrested on Friday (29th September 2006) in Dunedin and charged with shoplifting a block of cheese. Matthew Aaron Siy has been in prison since then and was not given the chance to ring anyone or talk to a lawyer. The shoplifting charge has now been dropped but the Immigration Department wants our friend deported because his work visa had recently expired. He was however in the process of applying for a visitors visa before being arrested.

We are asking you to ensure that Matt is released immediately, has his removal order lifted and is granted a visa.

Yours sincerely,