INDEPENDENT NEWS

Clark's Appeasement on Moutua Will Breed Thugs

Published: Mon 11 Nov 2002 08:47 AM
Clark's Appeasement on Moutua Will Breed Thugs
Sunday 10 Nov 2002 Stephen Franks Press Releases -- Treaty of Waitangi & Maori Affairs
Pleading for negotiations when a lawless invasion of property is threatened in Wanganui is nothing more than appeasement, ACT Justice and Treaty of Waitangi Spokesman Stephen Franks said today.
"Appeasement has only one outcome in the long term. Thugs breed when threats of thuggery pay off.
"The last Moutua deal was a capitulation to unlawful use of force and threats of violence. So it is no surprise that the winners are back at it again.
"The Courts gave clear decisions but the rule of law was then wounded by political decisions to buy off strife instead of enforcing the law.
"Helen Clark should now be trying to repair the damage - leaning over backwards to show that this time threats won't pay.
"She should be vowing to make sure that those who threaten to break the law will never get what they are demanding, for the simple reason that threatening lawlessness must never pay.
"I call on Ms Clark to do three things:
1. Ensure Tariana Turia is excluded from any role in this. Her support for criminals in the past will undermine any attempt to tell the thugs that the authorities are determined, and not scared of them.
2. Announce that she regrets looking as if she will roll over and whimper for a deal to any gang threatening to take property.
3. Announce that there will be no negotiations; they will get from the Government only what the law says they are entitled to.
"Ms Clark's Government has just charged a farmer who allegedly defended his own home and property against thieves. It seems Moutua will be the same again on a greater scale - the Government apologising to a gang that says it will seize property by force. We must end this appeasement," Mr Franks said.
For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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