National Distribution Union
Thursday, 8th 2007, 4:50pm
Union says the damage must now be accounted for following S-G decision not to press terrorism charges
NDU National Secretary, Laila Harre, says that the Solicitor General's decision not to lay charges under the Terrorism
Suppression Act "is a huge relief but does not end the controversy over the Act's use to put activists and their,
families, whanau and associates under surveillance and conduct commando-style searches of their homes and communities."
"Questions must now be directed at the Police and the Government. Police Commissioner Howard Broad sought to justify the
raids as a response to an 'imminent threat'.
The evidence has clearly fallen well short of that - with not even a prima facie case made to justify prosecution. While
it is a great relief that no charges have been laid, immense harm has already done to those implicated or subjected to
surveillance and search."
"There are almost certainly many others who don't even know that their movements and communications have been monitored
as part of this investigation."
Laila Harre says that "the use of the Act and the Act itself should be urgently and independently reviewed from a human
rights perspective. A reconciliation process with those affected must be undertaken and New Zealand authorities must do
everything in their power to restore the reputations of those implicated, both here and especially internationally."
ENDS