Clark demands answers over lost Zaoui tape

By CATHERINE MASTERS

Prime Minister Helen Clark wants to know what has happened to an hour of sound missing from an SIS/police interview with refugee Ahmed Zaoui.

Her comments from Nigeria, where she is attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, come amid growing calls for an inquiry into the handling of the Algerian's case.

Helen Clark, Minister in charge of the SIS, said she could not understand how videotaped evidence "gets lost or mislaid".

"Perhaps at some point when I have secure communication someone will be providing an answer. I don't know whether it's the police or the SIS.

"My concern is that the authorities should be seen to act competently.

"If you videotape evidence presumably you need to keep it for a record. To not keep it seems a little odd."

Matt Robson, deputy leader of the Progressive Party and coalition MP, says Labour politicians are becoming increasingly concerned about the case and he has called on the Prime Minister to begin an inquiry.

This follows a report in the Weekend Herald that an hour was missing from the tape of the seven-hour interview conducted with Mr Zaoui soon after his arrival last December.

Mr Zaoui has been in prison ever since on the basis of secret SIS information, despite being declared a refugee in August.

His lawyers are fighting for both a copy of the tape and a summary of the secret allegations.

The Inspector-General of Security and Intelligence, Laurie Greig, is supposed to have access to all classified material during his review of Mr Zaoui's security risk certificate.

The Herald understands Justice Greig was made aware of the tape by Mr Zaoui's lawyers during a telephone conference but that he has not yet viewed or heard any of it.

Justice Greig was instead given written reports based on handwritten notes which the SIS has destroyed.

Mr Robson has written to Helen Clark, saying: "If the SIS has been incompetent in this matter then an inquiry needs to be instituted.

"If they have acted deviously an inquiry is necessary and they are legally culpable.

"In any event, Mr Zaoui's legal rights have been further breached."

Mr Robson said he was concerned that the achievements of the Government were being overshadowed because it had not ensured Mr Zaoui was out of detention and able to know and answer the allegations against him.

"I believe also that we need now to disprove the suspicion that external powers, particularly France with its close relations with the murderous Algerian regime, are pressuring New Zealand on this matter."

The Refugee Status Appeals Authority, which declared Mr Zaoui a genuine refugee and man of peace, took many Government departments to task, Mr Robson told the Prime Minister.

It was now vital for the integrity of the Government that the responsible ministers allow an independent examination of the role of their departments in the matter.

He named the SIS, Customs, Immigration, the Police, Corrections and Foreign Affairs.

Green MP Keith Locke also wants an inquiry: "The SIS and police have been bungling the investigation from day one.

"The tape was not even supplied to Inspector-General for Security and Intelligence Laurie Greig - the man solely charged with assessing whether the SIS judgment is correct.

"Perhaps the SIS is worried the video will show that all the original accusations came from the Algerian regime, are prejudiced and thus have no credibility.

"I will be proposing to the ministers for the SIS and the police that they conduct an investigation into why these two agencies are making, and continue to make, so many mistakes."