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Allegations
of Abuse in Institutions |
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The Government is
encouraging army cadets who were physically or sexually abused while training
to contact it, but says it is too early to consider the issue of
compensation. Defence Minister Mark
Burton has ordered a preliminary inquiry into allegations of abuse after a
report by a former cadet said there was widespread "physical,
psychological and sexual abuse" of cadets at the Waiouru Cadet School
during the 1960s to 1980s. Mr Burton said he hoped
to get an initial report on the allegations later today, which would form the
basis for a longer and more thorough inquiry. "We will ensure
that these allegations are taken seriously and that people will get every
opportunity to bring their concerns forward," he told reporters. "Once we have a
sense of a scale of that and the range of issues, whatever needs to be done
to address them and follow them up will be done." However, he said a lot
more work needed to be done before the issue of compensation was even
considered. "It's far too
early to say. . . What I've undertaken to do is make sure we get a full scope
of the size of the issue and the range of the issues that are being raised. "What we will do
is ensure that problems and issues that continue for people as a result of
incidents that may have happened at that time will be followed up and if it
requires action to resolve issues that come out of that then that action will
follow." Mr Burton said the
first he heard of the allegations of widespread abuse was when he was told on
Sunday of former cadet Ian Fraser's report into the issue. Mr Fraser, a former
army communications officer now living in Australia, claimed in a statement
on Sunday that the army was aware of the problem but had swept it under the
carpet. He said he had spoken
out because he hoped the Government would provide support for army staff who
have had problems in later life as a result of their "negative
experiences" at the school. One of those to have
suffered at the school was cadet Grant Bain, 17, who was killed in February
1981 when a rifle pointed at him by another cadet was fired accidentally. The New Zealand Herald
reported today that the cadet who fired the gun, Corporal Andrew William
Read, was convicted of careless use of a firearm, but the former police
officer who investigated the case has said he believes the 17-year-old should
have been charged with manslaughter, but his view was overruled by his
superiors. Mr Burton said
officials might look at the incident as part of the inquiry, but the army had
discharged its obligations by immediately referring the matter to police, who
had investigated it and laid charges. Any reinvestigation of
that incident was a police matter, he said. Mr Fraser said today he
had received more than 100 e-mails from former cadets supporting his claims. He said they were
giving him details of what happened to them at the school. Incidents of sexual
abuse were minor, but "full-on violence" had been overwhelming and
horrific. "It was right
across the board, it covered the 60s, 70s, 80s and even 1991, which was the
year the school was closed down," he said. Mr Fraser said he
thought it was closed for financial reasons, not because of the violence that
had occurred. He said he was
receiving "disturbing reports" from other former cadets, and
referred to "a number of deaths" that had occurred. Mr Fraser said the army
had been aware of the situation, but had ignored it. Former cadets wishing
to contact Mr Burton's office can do so on 04 471 9715. |
