Anti-war activist charged for 'misusing phone' to protest to US

An Auckland peace activist who sent an e-mail to the US Embassy objecting to the war on Iraq has been charged with misuse of a telephone.

Police went to the Epsom home of university student Bruce Hubbard, 38, yesterday afternoon and took him to Takapuna police station for questioning.

Mr Hubbard last night said he had been charged under the Telecommunications Act and had been told by police they would seize information from his computer under the Counter-Terrorism Act.

Friends such as fellow activist John Minto were alerted to Hubbard's plight when he sent an e-mail before being taken to the police station.

A spokeswoman for Takapuna police confirmed Hubbard had been charged and was on bail, but was unable to confirm the charge.

Mr Minto said Hubbard sent the embassy an e-mail in about March.

Hubbard is a member of the left-wing groups Global Peace and Justice, Students for Justice in Palestine, and the Green Party.

In January, he helped to organise a protest against the deployment of the frigate Te Mana to aid US forces in the Middle East.

He has also been outspoken on the treatment of Algerian asylum seeker Ahmed Zaoui.

Hubbard is due to appear in North Shore District Court on Monday.

NZPA

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