PM: Taylor on his own in Syria
The Prime Minister has confirmed New Zealand won’t make ‘‘Kiwi Jihadi’’ Mark Taylor stateless, however he is without a passport and will find obtaining one logistically difficult.
That is largely because he is being held captive in Syria by Kurdish forces, and it is up to him to try to find consular support. New Zealand does not have a diplomatic presence in Syria.
It could be the Government equivalent of telling Taylor he is on his own.
Jacinda Ardern confirmed ‘‘contingency planning’’ had been under way for some time, in the event a small handful of Isis fighters attempted to return to New Zealand, at the downfall of the self-proclaimed ‘‘caliphate’’ they went to Syria to join.
After a protracted and bloody four-year battle, the Islamic State – known also as Isis or Daesh – has been reduced by US-led coalition fighters to a patch of territory of about 700 square metres.
Taylor, who has been on the Government radar since at least 2011, is being held in a Kurdish prison in Syria, according to Australian public broadcaster ABC.
Ardern effectively confirmed there was little to no help coming Taylor’s way.
‘‘New Zealand has made it very clear that from the outset, New Zealanders should not travel to Syria. Further, it is clear that it is unlawful to join and fight with a terrorist organisation as Mark Taylor has done,’’ she said.
His actions in joining Isis and travelling to Syria to fight for them, had created the potential for ‘‘legal ramifications’’ in New Zealand, which meant police could act if he returned, Ardern said.
New Zealand did not have diplomatic representation in Syria and the ability to represent Kiwis was limited. All New Zealand citizens had rights under domestic and international law. A ‘‘journey specific emergency travel document’’ could be issued, under the law.
‘‘However, New Zealand does not have representation in Syria and the ability of the Government to assist New Zealand citizens is severely limited,’’ Ardern said.
‘‘He would need to make his own way to a country where New Zealand has consular representation – something that in his current situation will be difficult to do. We have consistently told Mark Taylor that we cannot help him obtain an emergency document. Mr Taylor holds New Zealand citizenship and the Government has an obligation not to make citizens stateless,’’ Ardern said. She would not confirm whether the Government had been speaking with Taylor or his family at all.
‘‘Bringing terrorists to justice is something the Government takes extremely seriously.’’
The minister responsible for New Zealand’s spy agencies, Andrew Little, said there was no obligation to provide assistance or any legal representation to a person who had broken the law overseas.
Spies keep watch
Ardern’s comments echoed statements by Security Intelligence Service (SIS) Director-General Rebecca Kitteridge.
Kitteridge and her external spy counterpart, Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) head Andrew Hampton appeared in front of Parliament’s powerful intelligence and security committee two weeks ago.
How to handle the potential return of New Zealand citizens who had left to fight alongside Isis was a threat priority, the pair briefed MPs on the committee during an open forum.
At any one time, about 30 people were of particular interest to the SIS.
The number fluctuated as investigations progressed; some were resolved and some produced new people of interest to the spy agency.
‘‘As I’ve said previously, there are a small number of citizens – men and women, some are dual citizens – who are likely in the conflict zone in Syria,’’ Kitteridge said.
It was difficult to obtain accurate information about their fates, but New Zealand was working with security partners to establish the status of a known set of individuals there.
‘‘In the event of the return of a foreign terrorist fighter, or somebody who has travelled to the conflict zone to join [Isis], we would work closely with New Zealand Police and other agencies,’’ she said.
‘‘That contingency planning has been in train for some time.’’
Speaking to media after the committee hearing, Kitteridge would not be drawn then, on whether Taylor was still alive and of concern.
Kitteridge confirmed the spy agencies did not believe any New Zealanders had managed to return, at that point.