Campaigners urge full inquiry into Afghan village SAS raid

Tuesday, 13 February 2018, 11:24 am
Press Release: ActionStation

Members of the ActionStation community and the Hit & Run Inquiry Campaign welcome the announcement that the Attorney General, David Parker, will investigate the claims made in the book Hit & Run.

The book, by investigative journalists Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson provided compelling evidence that the New Zealand SAS was responsible for a raid on an Afghan village in 2010 in which six civilians were killed, including a 3 year old girl, and another fifteen wounded.

The National government refused to set up an independent inquiry and the affected villagers have not received an apology or reparations. While in Opposition last year the Labour Party said an inquiry was necessary.

Over 3,500 people signed an ActionStation petition urging the government to conduct an independent inquiry.

“We encourage strongly the Attorney General use all options available to find out what really happened in 2010 and what the responsibility of New Zealand forces for civilian casualties,” said Marianne Elliott. “There needs to be a full and independent Royal commission of inquiry for transparency and authority.

“This is an opportunity for New Zealand to have trust that we are acting in good faith in our international operations, and for the villagers themselves to have justice.”

The Hit & Run Inquiry Campaign, a group of volunteers, wrote to the major political leaders in the government late last year to request a full and independent Royal Commission of Inquiry into the claims made in the book Hit & Run.

“We were heartened by the news yesterday that the Prime Minister has asked the Attorney General to investigate the claims made in the book Hit & Run, we believe and reiterate that only a full and independent Royal Commission of Inquiry can result in the truth to be found and justice to be done. We will continue for our voice to be heard,” Hit & Run Inquiry Campaign spokesperson Aida Tavassoli.

The petition :
https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/launch-an-independent-inquiry-into-the-nz-sas-s-involvement-in-civilian-casualties-in-afghanistan

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