KEY POINTS:
Triad gangs and vigilante groups of concerned citizens, trained in martial arts, will soon be roaming the streets of south Auckland looking for trouble-makers, it's been reported today.
The organiser of yesterday's huge south Auckland protest against anti-Asian violence says he has vigilantes in training to stop further attacks.
A crowd estimated at more than 10,000 turned out in cold, wet conditions in south Auckland yesterday to demonstrate against recent attacks on members of the Asian community.
Organiser Peter Low from the Asian Anti-Crime Group (AAG) said politicians could not ignore the strong message sent out by the marchers.
The east Auckland importer said if authorities tried to stop his vigilantes looking after their own, then the AAG would consider hiring local Triads to protect his people from violent attacks.
"We are a vigilante group and are training now," he told a Sunday newspaper.
"We are training people in hand-to-hand combat and how to handle situations.
"I want this group to be legalised. If they (the police) don't allow it, that's when we might have to employ Triads to protect our community," he said.
Mr Low, 55, said he had been organising his team of vigilantes for months but brought forward the start date because of the recent violent deaths of three Asians.
Liquor store owner Navtej Singh, 30, was fatally shot at his shop on June 7.
A week later, Yan Ping Yang, 80, died after having been attacked by an intruder in her home three days earlier.
On June 16, Joanne Wang, 39, was knocked down by a stolen vehicle in a shopping mall car park after her handbag was snatched. She died in hospital.
Mr Low said Asians had become targets because many did not speak good English and criminals thought they had lots of money.
"My wife is frightened to go to the supermarket now and I'm always worrying about my daughter going to the bank.
"Is this the kind of place we want our families living in?
"We live in fear. We live in anger."
Mr Low said many Asians had lost faith in the police's ability to protect them.
"New Zealand is promoted as a green and peaceful country. That's not true," he said.
"We don't deserve to be humiliated by this crime while the Government does nothing about it.
"I have gotten fed up because the police response is not good enough."
Mr Low said yesterday's march through east Auckland, which has a heavy concentration of Asians gave a voice to members of the community who want action by the Government, the justice system and the police.
Until such action came, he was preparing trained patrols to be able to answer calls for help.
Mr Low, who admitted there was opposition from within the Asian community to the concept of a vigilante force, is funding the AAG from his own pocket.
Manukau Acting Mayor Gary Troup said month it would be concerning if such groups were set up.
"Rather than creating vigilante groups and trying to distinguish isolated incidents we've really got to work together and make it work long-term."
- NZPA
