Maori Party calls on Inspector General to investigate SIS activities

Tariana Turia, Co-leader, Maori Party

22 November 2004

‘I have today, written to the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Retired Judge, Hon. Paul Neazor, to ask him to initiate an immediate inquiry into the allegations made about the activities of the Security Intelligence Service’, co-leader of the Maori Party, Tariana Turia, said today.

‘There are too many serious questions left unanswered. New Zealanders take for granted that our freedom to live in an open democracy is a basic standard of living for our nation’ said Mrs Turia.

‘These latest allegations suggest that ordinary New Zealanders, Maori New Zealanders, are having their basic human rights infringed upon’.

‘The Prime Minister’s response that the allegations are a ‘work of fiction’, or ‘laughable’, is not sufficient to allay the concerns of every-day, decent law-abiding citizens, that they too, will not run the risk of coming under SIS surveillance if they join the Maori Party, or happen to belong to an Iwi that opposes a Government that legitimises theft’ said Mrs Turia.

ENDS

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