By Patrick Gower
The Government has admitted it cannot rule out that SAS troops may have handed over prisoners that were tortured by authorities in Afghanistan.
The admission follows a report by the United Nations that found “systematic torture” was common in Afghanistan – with abuses like electric shocks administered during interrogation – with many committed at a prison in Kabul, where the SAS are stationed.
The SAS helps hand prisoners over to Afghanistan’s authorities, but it is what happens next that is of concern – torture is possible and the Government has admitted today that it can’t be ruled out.
“The information I have is that they haven’t, that’s about as far as I can go – we are talking about Afghanistan here,” says Wayne Mapp.
The Government’s admission has been forced by the United Nations. A report out today says there is “systematic torture”, including a prison called Department 90/124 in Kabul.
The UN says abuses there include:
- Beatings
- Suspects hung by their hands
- Twisting and wrenching of genitals
- Electric shocks
Asked whether he is confident enough to tell the people of New Zealand that prisoners caught with our assistance have not ended up in Department 90, Dr Mapp said that is just the information he has. Asked whether he is prepared to give New Zealanders that undertaking, he responded: “No, that’s the information I have”.
But the SAS and its partners in the Afghan Crisis Reponse Unit do hand suspects to the National Directorate of Security. Dr Mapp admitted that while New Zealand Defence had been told they didn’t go to Department 90,that may not be right.
“I would like to think it is correct but I am not prepared to go beyond the information I have received,” he says.
Victim testimony includes:
- “There is so much beating at Department 90 that people call it Hell”
- “They were beating me with hard plastic pipes on my legs and the soles of my feet”
- And, “One of them held my penis in his hand and twisted it severely until I passed out”
“Our troops aren’t deliberately doing it, but they are being put in a position by Government where they are complicit in what happens afterwards to the detainees,” Labour Party leader Phil Goff said.
The UN report simply could not be clearer; there is “compelling evidence” of torture when international forces hand over captives in Afghanistan.
But the New Zealand Government really doesn’t like talking about what the SAS is doing in the war, because as every day goes by, our involvement becomes more politically damaging.
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