Prison standoff: call for independent inquiry

WELLINGTON: The Human Rights Commission says an independent inquiry is needed into what happened at Waikeria Prison.

Sixteen protesters surrendered to authorities on Sunday after a sixday standoff.

The men had said they were protesting unacceptable conditions at the prison, after complaints about inhumane treatment had not been listened to.

The Department of Corrections has announced two separate internal reviews to investigate how the situation escalated to the extent it did.

But Human Rights Commission

chief commissioner Paul Hunt said the Ombudsman should carry out an independent inquiry.

‘‘Let’s see what an inquiry establishes, but keep in mind that the Ombudsman’s team of investigators has been telling us for years that conditions in many of our prisons are substandard and do not meet basic international human rights requirements.’’

Mr Hunt said there was no shortage of reports and recommendations pointing out failings in prisons, but progress was glacial.

‘‘There are some very fine staff working for Corrections, but I am sorry to say that not everyone has got the message. For example, during the protest it was reported that the nonsupply of water was used as a negotiating tactic. If that proves to be accurate, this was inhumane and unlawful and suggests that some people in Corrections are living in the past.’’

Just Speak director Tania Sawicki Mead said it was very difficult for any outside parties to have faith in an organisation investigating itself.

‘‘The culture of that very organisation is the very thing in question. There’s a wider and more systemic issue at play in the way that Corrections operates across the country.’’

Minister for Corrections Kelvin Davis said none of the protesters had complained about their living conditions through official channels.

‘‘There were many legitimate avenues for prisoners to raise concerns about their conditions, including through the independent Corrections Inspectorate and the Office of the Ombudsman,’’ he said.

But Ms Mead questioned how many inmates were aware of their rights or knew about the official complaint channels and had trust in those processes.

‘‘Any individual making a complaint through the Ombudsman system is likely to wait a really long time before they’re addressed — and these men were talking about basic human rights.’’

She said failure to believe the inmates’ claims was also disappointing, ‘‘particularly when the Ombudsman’s report verifies with significant detail a lot of their concerns’’.

Police said an inquiry into the protest was under way, but it might be several months before charges could be laid. — RNZ