SAS keeping a ‘lid’ on situation
Prime Minister Bill English is expected to make a decision ‘‘shortly’’ about launching an inquiry into the allegations about SAS activities in Afghanistan in 2010.
Meanwhile the SAS has been calling the partners and relatives of soldiers serving overseas to ensure them the service acts with ‘‘integrity’’.
The unusual calls come in response to the book Hit & Run by journalists Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson, which alleges that a botched SAS-led raid on two villages in the Tirgiran Valley in 2010 caused the deaths of six civilians, but no insurgents.
They included a three-year-old girl, a father and son, two poor farmers, and a teacher visiting home.
One spouse who received a call said it felt like the SAS was trying to put a spin on the story and considered the call ‘‘bizarre’’.
Asked about the reason for the calls, a New Zealand Defence Force spokesperson said: ‘‘We have nothing further to add at this time.’’
Hager said he believed the SAS was trying to do damage control because they knew a lot of people were unhappy about their conduct.
‘‘I believe the SAS is trying to keep a lid on this because there’s a lot of people who know things that they don’t want to come out,’’ Hager said.
Stephenson said the SAS has been withholding information for years. ‘‘The public has been actively misled. We deserve to know why, and who was responsible.’’
English is expected to meet with Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and the NZDF today to discuss the allegations and decide a way forward.