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Allegations
of Abuse in Institutions |
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THE man who sparked the
Waiouru cadet abuse controversy says serving Defence Force staff are involved
in attempts to hose down the issue. Former army
communications officer Ian Fraser, who is now a computer consultant, said an
army major and a civilian appeared to be using Defence Force facilities to
assist others with a disinformation campaign. Mr Fraser said there
was a campaign of damage control and forces were being mustered against him
to play down the allegations of abuse and claim they were rubbish. He believed the action
was being taken by ex-cadets rather than as part of an organised response
from the army. "This is why I want an independent inquiry." It needed to be a full
judicial inquiry headed by someone with the stature of Justice Mahon, who led
the inquiry into the Mt Erebus plane crash disaster. Mr Fraser has received
more than 300 e-mails claiming abuse at the Regular Force Cadet School, which
operated at Waiouru from 1948-91. The Government,
however, is talking only of an investigation. Defence Minister Mark Burton
yesterday said he was considering options for "an appropriate
independent process to respond to issues raised". He had consulted
Attorney-General Margaret Wilson and was getting advice from appropriate
agencies, such as Crown Law and the State Services Commission. "These are complex
issues, most of them dating back 25 to 45 years. They must be dealt with in a
serious, professional, credible manner. It is vital we take the necessary
time to determine an appropriate robust process to investigate them
thoroughly." Issues included drawing
up terms of reference that were thorough and flexible. It also had to be done
fairly. A spokeswoman for Mr
Burton said he would not respond to Mr Fraser's allegation that Defence people
were involved in a disinformation campaign. Army spokesman Murray
Brown denied there was any organised public relations response from the army
to defend itself against the allegations. He said there was bound
to plenty of discussion among former cadets, with many of them lining up on
either side of the claims. Army chief
Major-General Jerry Mateparae yesterday broke his silence on the controversy,
saying, "I am very concerned with the serious nature of the allegations
made. I fully support an open and independent investigation." General Mateparae also
defended the school, saying it had "produced many of the army's finest
soldiers and officers . . . It should also be recognised that there was much
that was good and positive in the RFCS (cadet school) system." Harassment was
unacceptable and not tolerated by the Defence Force. Meanwhile, Wellington
lawyer Roger Chapman, who has been acting for former psychiatric patients who
allege they were abused in hospitals, is offering to assist former cadets. Mr Chapman said their
stories of abuse and the impact it had on their lives echoed those of the
psychiatric patients. Investigations could
range from a ministerial inquiry behind closed doors to a full public inquiry
with everyone represented by lawyers. In setting it up, the
Government was bound to be wary of liability and legal issues. |
