Hidden history of Afghanistan war revealed

A former Defence Force boss has called on New Zealand to examine our part in the war in Afghanistan, as a new documentary reveals secret details about operations involving our soldiers.

‘‘Afghanistan is a story that I don’t think the public really knows what we were doing over there,’’ retired Lieutenant General Rhys Jones said in an interview as part of Stuff Circuit’s The Valley documentary series.

Jones said he was proud of what was achieved but admits there were things that the public did not know about, or did not know the full story.

He is one of several former NZDF personnel interviewed as part of the series - but serving staff were ordered not to front.

The Valley investigates why New Zealand became involved in the war - launched in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States - and what was achieved. It also uncovers previously secret details about several operations New Zealand soldiers were involved in.

One of those incidents is the 2012 Battle of Baghak, in which two New Zealand and four Afghan soldiers died.

The investigation reveals how aspects of the Court of Inquiry into the battle are wrong.

Crucially, the inquiry report places insurgents in a location where Stuff Circuit has obtained evidence there were none, undermining the conclusions of the New Zealand military investigation. There are also questions about who fired first, and who New Zealand forces were firing at.

Stuff Circuit has also learned that a secret report on the battle is being hidden by the New Zealand Defence Force. Sources describe the report as ‘‘much more balanced’’ and say it was written by Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Whakahoehoe. He was sent to Bamyan to conduct an investigation in parallel with the official Court of Inquiry.

Helen Thomasen, mother of one of the fallen soldiers, Lance Corporal Rory Malone, has called on the Defence Force to be open about what happened. ‘‘I wanted to know the ins and outs, the truth, you know?,’’ she told Stuff Circuit. ‘‘Don’t cover it up - I wanted to know how my boy got killed.’’

The Whakahoehoe report has never been publicly released, so Stuff Circuit sought a copy under the Official Information Act.

The Defence Force confirmed the report existed but wouldn’t release it.

‘‘As a result of his inquiries, a report was produced by Lt Col Whakahoehoe. This documentation remains classified,’’ wrote Commodore Ross Smith, the Defence Force’s Chief of Staff.

Stuff Circuit has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to review NZDF’S decision.

Media lawyer Steven Price, of Victoria University, said he believed Defence sometimes did not want to release information that would embarrass it or lead to criticism.

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