July 03, 2013
Flavell seeking Operation Eight inquiry
Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell is trying to get the Māori Affairs select committee to inquire into the impact of Operation Eight on the people apart from those arrested.
Police staged raids around the country on in October 2007 to sweep up people involved in what they said at the time was suspected terrorist activity.
Charges against most of the defendants were eventually dropped because the police broke the law during their surveillance of alleged military-style training camps near Ruatoki, but four including Tuhoe activist Tame Iti were convicted on weapons charges.
Mr Flavell says he has received a letter of complaint from Mr Iti on behalf of his partner and 17 year old daughter, who were dragged from their Whakatane home at gunpoint, barefoot and dressed only in nightwear.
The chair of the independent police complaints authority, Judge David Carruthers, has found the arbitrary detention of the pair was contrary to law, unjustified, and unreasonable.
Mr Flavell says a month after the release of the Independent Police Conduct Authority report into Operation Eight there has still been no action towards those affected in places like Ruatoki.
Māori Affairs Select Committee chair Tau Henare says there could be an apology in the Tuhoe settlement bill, which is expected before the house in about eight weeks.
Kāore anō kia ea ai ngā hara ō te pirihimana i tā rātou urutomo atu i Te Urewera.
E akiaki ana te maangai tōrangapū ō Te Waiariki, ā Te Ururoa Flavell i te Kōmiti Whiriwhiri Māori ō te Whare Pāremata, kia whakahaerehia e rātou he rangahau hoohonu e pā ana ki ngā hua kino i puta i ā Operation Eight ki te hunga kāore i mauheretia i taua wā.
Nō te marama ō Whiringa-ā-nuku 2007 i urutomo ai ngā pirihimana i ngā kaainga puta noa i te motu, i raro i te whakapae whakatuuaatea.
Te otinga ake, tokowhā noa iho i hāmenetia mō te mau pū noa iho.
Hei tā Flavell, ahakoa te putanga mai ō te purongo ā te Mana Arotake Pirihimana kotahi marama ki muri, kāore anō te aha kia mahia hei whakatika i ngā hē, hei whakatika hoki i te wairua ō ērā i mārurengatia.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd