PM rules out inquiry into SAS torture reports
Prime Minister John Key has ruled out an inquiry into reports the SAS handed over detainees who were later tortured. The Green Party has demanded an investigation after reports terror suspects were tortured in 2002 and 2010 after being handed over to Afghan and US forces, but Mr Key said he ''hadn't seen any evidence to support the need for an inquiry''. He would have some discussions with Defence Minister Wayne Mapp when he returned to New Zealand next week. ''I see nothing that has indicated to me that New Zealanders have done anything other than what we would expect them to do and to have acted in line with both the Geneva Convention and the signed protocols that we have as part of the operation in Afghanistan.'' He added: ''I'm totally confident New Zealanders have acted in line with that convention. When people have been under New Zealand care they've be treated properly.''
Metro magazine published details of two incidents from 2010 where detainees were handed over to Afghan forces and another in 2002 where around 55 people were handed over to United States troops. According to the article many of those handed over were subsequently tortured.
Oh for the love of God Mr Key! We are talking about the laws of war! There are laws in war for a bloody good reason, and these reasons have been built up over centuries of philosophy about why we have rules in war! This is the Geneva Convention we are talking about John, it's not some formality at head office and we have clearly gone over the mark here, and serious questions raised in the Metro article that our soon to be declared Governor General may have misled our politicians.
It is EXACTLY in the political arena that such debate should occur! We are all responsible for this, our taxes pay for this war.
Our democracy has a proud history of pacifists and people prepared to go to prison as conscientious objectors, such an ethical stance has as much political legitimacy as John Key's meaningless strategy in Afghanistan.
Our safety is NOT paramount, the safety of Afghan civilians is paramount, and if we are merely enabling torture while propping up a corrupt regime in a war we are losing in a country with a history of devouring armies, then I would humbly suggest Mr Key that your position has no legitimacy whatsoever.
Well done Metro, this is the first copy of the magazine I have purchased in about a decade, if you continue to print such brilliant investigative journalism, I'll continue to buy your magazine!
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