PM quiet on inquiry into raid
Prime Minister Bill English is staying quiet on whether he will launch an inquiry into a deadly Afghanistan raid involving the SAS, as protesters prepare for a vigil outside Parliament.
English, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Defence Force chief Lieutenant General Tim Keating met yesterday afternoon to discuss allegations raised by Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson’s book, Hit & Run.
The book claims an SAS-led raid on two villages in the Tirgiran Valley in 2010 caused the deaths of six civilians, including a young child, but no insurgents.
The Government has come under pressure to investigate the allegations, with Labour, the Greens, NZ First and UnitedFuture all calling for an inquiry.
On Sunday, TVNZ’s Q+A reported the Defence Force had admitted there may have been at least one civilian killed, referring to a ‘‘suspected civilian casualty’’ in response to an Official Information Act request.
Labour leader Andrew Little said the admission added weight to calls for an inquiry.
‘‘I think there are enough questions around this particular operation, without getting into blame-shifting mode, for New Zea- landers’ confidence in their defence forces, to know what actually happened.’’
Little believed a retired judge would be the best choice to head up an inquiry, given the gravity of the allegations. ‘‘What you do need is somebody experienced at deciding facts and examining people, and that’s why a High Court judge or even more senior than a High Court judge ought to be involved.’’
Little’s comments came as protesters announced a vigil outside Parliament this morning to encourage the Government to hold an ‘‘open and independent’’ inquiry into the raid.
Vigil spokesman Adrian Leason said the Government needed to show moral leadership in dealing with the allegations.
‘‘The honourable thing to do now, in particular for the Afghan survivors, is to hold a full and independent inquiry and to comply with the recommendations that follow.’’
While a number of years had passed since the attack, it was ‘‘never too late for a merciful and principled response by the Crown’’, Leason said.
A spokesman for English confirmed he had met Brownlee and Keating, but had nothing further to add. Speaking to media on Saturday, English said he would make a decision soon about whether to hold an inquiry, following his briefing. A few spots of rain were not enough to stop thousands of people partying into the night at Wellington’s CubaDupa festival on Saturday.
The crowds returned yesterday afternoon as the second and final day got under way at midday in wet conditions.
Khandallah’s Rachel Porteous came with her mother, husband and three children on Saturday.
She said the circus acts, music and the festival’s diversity were among the highlights. ‘‘It’s brilliant. Really good. ‘‘There’s a real mix of New Zea- landers of every colour, creed and race. Everyone has come out of their homes.’’
Lower Hutt resident Cherie Nathan brought children TK, 8, and Payton, 5, to the festival on the first day. Their grandmother lives in Cuba St.
It was her second time at the festival, and she was happy to be back, she said.
‘‘I think it’s all of it. The stalls. Good food. There’s lots of stuff for the kids.’’
Husband and wife Erica Duthie and Struan Ashby set up their temporary art installation, Carp Diem, on Ghuznee St on Saturday.
It includes 70 stencils, handmade from recycled billboard skins and stuck on to the road.
It was the Wellington couple’s first CubaDupa, having have travelled around the world with their art.
Kent Lambert owns Lambert’s Luscious, on Left Bank, and was selling his products from a stall.
‘‘It seems to be going well. There is a lot of foot traffic.’’
One of the more popular attractions was the Wellington Chocolate Factory on Eva St, whose combination of sweet treats and virtual reality had resulted in high demand.
The virtual reality experience took the viewer across a cartoon island, through the way the factory’s cocoa beans were sourced and then processed.
The viewer watched an animated version of factory cofounder Gabe Davidson, and creatures called ‘‘oooeee’’, through a headset.
Wellington-based Polytronik Studios helped to develop the technology, and their creative director Tony St George said he was excited by the venture.
‘‘We’re giving everyone their first taste of virtual reality. This technology will be everywhere [soon]’’.
Some of the Saturday festivalgoers were covered in colour, after coming directly from the Holi Wellington Colour Festival at Frank Kitts Park.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was to arrive in Wellington last night for a visit expected to focus on strengthening trade between the two countries. When he announced Li’s visit, Prime Minister Bill English said China was New Zealand’s secondlargest trading partner, its biggest market for export goods, a fastgrowing service market and a ‘‘small but increasingly important source of foreign investment’’. Li’s visit marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand.
A man died and three other people were injured when a car left State Highway 6 near the KaitunaTuamarina Rd turnoff, near Blenheim, about 11pm on Friday. Earlier on Friday, a 44-year-old man died in a four-wheel-drive crash on farmland in Central Hawke’s Bay. He was employed by the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.