25 October 2007
The real danger may be closer to home - within the Beehive
Green Party MP Keith Locke suggests that the authorities should be looking much closer to home for the real dangers from
political violence.
"While I was quietly going about my business in the middle of a Parliamentary debate last night, Trevor Mallard resorted
to violence against Tau Henare only a few metres away in the lobby," Mr Locke says.
"There may be an argument for the detention of those involved until their potential for violence can be assessed -
after all, strong evidence exists that Mr Mallard, while acting under a deep sense of historical and recent grievance,
crossed the line from anger and resentment and put into effect a plan to do actual damage to Mr Henare.
"The evidence for this outrage may be stronger than that regarding some of those caught up in the recent anti-terrorism
raids.
"The irony of a senior Minister getting involved in such an altercation on the same day that his Government had the
second hearing debate on its draconian anti-terrorism legislation will not be lost on the public.
"Personally, I think I would be more in fear of violence from Mr Mallard than from Rongomai Bailey - one of the accused
in the recent police swoops - who I know well, and visited in Mt Eden prison the day before his release on bail," Mr
Locke says.
ENDS