[asia-apec 405] Re: NZ Organisations, Unions Back Enquiry Call

[Gatt Watchdog]

Path: corso!gattwd
From: gattwd at corso.ch.planet.gen.nz (Gatt Watchdog)
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
Subject: NZ Organisations, Unions Back Enquiry Call
Message-ID: <3BHX0D4w165w at corso.ch.planet.gen.nz>
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 97 10:24:49 +1200
Reply-To: gattwd at corso.ch.planet.gen.nz (Gatt Watchdog)
Organization: PlaNet Gaia Otautahi



Attention: Chief Reporter                       

                          MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE

NZ Organisations,  Unions  Endorse Anniversary Call For Independent 
Public SIS Enquiry 

14 July 1997

One year after a botched Security Intelligence Service break-in (13 July 
1996) at the Christchurch home of GATT Watchdog spokesperson Aziz 
Choudry, a number of New Zealand organisations and unions are backing 
a call from Rev Brian Turner, the manager of Trade Aid Importers, for a 
fully independent public enquiry into the incident.

Corso, Christian World Service, the New Zealand Trade Union 
Federation, Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa (CAFCA),  
Christchurch Community Law Centre, the Anti-Bases Campaign, the 
Association of University Staff (AUS) and GATT Watchdog are backing 
his call.

Brian Turner, referring to the recently released report on the case by the 
Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Justice Greig says:

"The botched SIS break-in has been matched with a botched report.  
Instead of offering redress to the complainants (Mr Choudry and 
University of Canterbury lecturer Dr David Small), it implies that they 
were justifiable targets for investigation and harassment by both the SIS 
and the Police".

Brian Turner believes that the newly established oversight mechanisms 
put in place in relation to the SIS are inadequate, and that the 
government should instead allow a fully independent public enquiry to be 
conducted into last July's events.

"Not only should there be a fully independent public enquiry into this 
incident, but it should have access to all the documentation and reports on 
the incident - not just the sanitised version released to Mr Choudry and 
Dr Small".  

Mr Turner says that the Prime Minister has, in a recent letter to Aziz 
Choudry, admitted that he has received a report from Justice Greig, but 
has declined to provide a copy, and would neither confirm nor deny the 
existence or non-existence of other documentation or communication 
related to the matter.

The groups are also calling for a public assurance from the government 
that it will uphold the right of free speech and legitimate political dissent.

"Given last July's break-in, the events of the following week, and last 
month's highly unsatisfactory report of the Inspector-General of 
Intelligence and Security, it is clear that we cannot take such rights for 
granted." said Brian Turner.

Maxine Gay, General Secretary of the NZ Trade Union Federation (TUF) 
says: 
"The bungled break-in and its aftermath shows that the Trade Union 
Federation's concerns were justified when we made our submission on the 
SIS Amendment Bill in 1996".

Leigh Cookson of  justice and development agency Corso says:
"Corso knows of many cases of the harassment of people and groups 
working for social justice in countries ruled by repressive regimes. We are 
appalled to see the same thing occurring here, and the actions taken 
against Mr Choudry and Dr Small, both of whom are elected Corso 
officials. The SIS legislation made provision for such harassment.  The 
conclusions of the Inspector-General's report establish the precedent. It is 
just not good enough for the SIS and the Prime Minister to continue to 
hide behind smug "neither confirm nor deny" statements about this case 
and to refuse to be publicly accountable in any way."

Professor David Gunby, the University of Canterbury President of AUS 
has also reaffirmed his organisation's concerns about this incident and 
backed a call for an enquiry.

For further comment please contact: 
Brian Turner (Manager,Trade Aid Importers) (03) 3853535 (w); (03) 3890234 (h)

Leigh Cookson (Corso) 03 3662803 (w); (03) 3812951 (h)

Jill Hawkey (National Co-ordinator, Christian World Service) (03)
3669274 (w);
Maxine Gay (General Secretary, TUF): (04) 3848963/(04) 2375062 (w)
or 025 2769225
(mobile)

Murray Horton (CAFCA/Anti-Bases CampaignOrganiser) (03) 3663988

Nick McBride (Legal Resource Worker, Christchurch Community Law Centre) (03) 
3666870 (w); (03) 3390393 (h)


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