A police roadblock in action in the Ruatoki Valley. Photo / Alan Gibson
United Nations officials have asked the Government to explain the police's October anti-terror raids.
The police have been heavily criticised for perceived heavy-handed tactics during the nationwide raids, which focused on the small Bay of Plenty town of Ruatoki.
Police cited the Terrorism Suppression Act in the raids,
but the Solicitor-General subsequently decided that there was insufficient evidence to lay charges under the Act.
However, sixteen people face weapons charges resulting from the police investigation.
A spokesman for Duty Minister Rick Barker today said the Government had received a letter from three UN human rights officials just before Christmas.
The letter contained a list of questions relating to the raids.
Mr Barker said the Government took its UN obligations seriously.
Some members of the Tuhoe tribe, which like Ruatoki is centred in the Urewera, have laid a complaint with the UN over the raids.
Spokesman for the lawyers representing the accused, Moana Jackson, said the letter was more than just an embarrassment for the government.
"The UN can't fine the Government or drag it to court but it can diplomatically embarrass it. But more importantly, it raises at the highest level, because these are the people in the top international human rights body, it raises serious concerns about the commitment of the Government to human rights," Mr Jackson said.
He said families from Tuhoe have sent a letter of complaint to the UN regarding the police raids but the special rapporteur's letter was sent independently and pre-dates the Tuhoe complaint.
Mr Jackson said the UN's special rapporteur on counter terrorism has previously listened to government's complaints about so-called terror organisations but this is the first time the special rapporteur has written to a government about its actions.
"In their communication to the Government, they specifically raised concerns that the Government's Terrorism Suppression Act may not reach international human rights standards," Mr Jackson said.
Mr Barker said the Government will respond to the letter in due course.
- NZPA and NZHERALD STAFF
