Sarah van Ballekom last night passes a hot chocolate to
protester and Otago University Students Association
president Logan Edgar, who is locked in a cage at the
university. Photo by Linda Robertson.
Otago University Students Association president Logan
Edgar says he was grabbed by the throat by a political
opponent, moments before entering a "prison cell".
At 7pm the marketing student slipped between the bars of his
"presidential prison" to oppose the Education (Freedom of
Association) Amendment Bill, sponsored by Act New Zealand MP
Heather Roy.
However before beginning his self-imposed two-day
incarceration he was involved in an altercation with a member
of Act's campus branch.
Mr Edgar said an unknown Act member was brandishing a sign
with "I love Liberty" while a group of vocal opponents tried
to "hijack my campaign".
"I screwed it up, threw it at his feet and he stepped up and
grabbed me by my throat."
Mr Edgar alleged the man also threatened to punch him.
Last night he was unsure whether he would lay a complaint
with police over the incident.
"It makes Act look like thugs," he said.
Act on Campus Otago president John Brinsley-Pirie confirmed a
member of the party was involved in an altercation with Mr
Edgar.
"It did get a bit tense."
Mr Brinsley-Pirie said he did not see the party member grab
Mr Edgar by the throat, or threaten to punch him, and the
members were not trying to be confrontational.
"We told him that this was a very regrettable circumstance."
Mr Edgar said he would rather debate the issue with Mrs Roy,
and invited her inside his cage, after the Act tertiary
education spokeswoman accused him of being "bored".
"His planned protest makes the opposite point to what he
presumably intends," Mrs Roy said.
"Voluntary student membership will free students from the
cage of student associations. It won't lock anyone in or out
- as Mr Edgar is claiming."
hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz
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