Criticism over Zaoui case directed at PM

Friday 10 Dec 2004

Stephen Franks - Press Releases - Other

ACT Justice spokesman Stephen Franks today said media reports claiming ACT is calling for a law change to keep Ahmed Zaoui in prison are incorrect.

Mr Franks points out that his criticism yesterday was directed at Prime Minister Helen Clark's handling of the Zaoui case.

"If Helen Clark genuinely believed that Mr Zaoui was a national security risk, she should have sought urgent legislation. It would have been supported on a bi-partisan basis, as is convention in such matters, assuming she satisfied party leaders of the risk.

"Instead the Government seems now to be accepting the courts can decide what is a national security risk.

"This can only mean the courts thought the security risk was trivial, or they don't care about security.

"ACT's concern is the incompetence shown in handling a defence matter and in the conduct of an important legal case," Mr Franks said.

ENDS

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