Locke Keith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Locke Keith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:629;Page:1450] 
9.  
KEITH LOCKE (Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Foreign Affairs 
: Will he be calling for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre following the recent United Nations Commission on Human Rights’ report issued 15 February 2006 which highlights the systematic practice of torture and the indefinite detention without trial of detainees; if not why not? 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Minister of Foreign Affairs) 
: 
 For many years now New Zealand has condemned human rights abuses where they have been proven to have occurred. The issue therefore is not the existence of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre but rather the treatment of detainees there or elsewhere. The Government’s position is that all persons detained at Guantanamo Bay or elsewhere should be treated in accordance with international humanitarian law and human rights law. 
Keith Locke 
: Why is the Government such a wimp as to not call for the Guantanamo Bay facility to be closed when the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The member knows better in the light of the discussions that have been going on in this House than to use the word “wimp”. Would the member please just ask the question straight; otherwise we will have continual points of order. 
Keith Locke 
: Why is the Government lacking such fortitude as to not call for the Guantanamo— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. That term has been ruled out on many occasions. That member has been here for some time and I think it is about time that he caught up with the Standing Orders. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I do not in this context rule that out of order. “Fortitude” is perfectly all right. Has the member finished his question? 
Keith Locke 
: Why is the Government lacking such fortitude as to not call for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay facility when the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan did so last week and when the European Parliament voted 80 to 1 last week for closure insisting to the US administration that: “Every prisoner should be treated in accordance with international humanitarian law and tried without delay in a fair and public hearing by a competent independent tribunal.”? 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: I think I answered that question substantially in the primary answer but I will say that we have taken several opportunities to publicly underline the fundamental importance of respecting all human rights and fundamental freedoms including in the context of countering terrorism. I note also that the United States Government has provided an interim response to the Special Rapporteur on Mercenaries group on Guantanamo Bay and we would encourage it to carry on the dialogue. It is a fact that for years we have railed against human rights abuses particularly against events during the regime of Pol Pot. 
Keith Locke 
: How can the Minister say that the question of closing Guantanamo Bay is separate from what goes on within it when the  
Dominion Post 
 stated on Monday: “It has been clear to most since the camp was set up that it was nothing more than an attempt to get around applying to others the protections against the power of the state that American citizens demand for themselves.”; and when the Government does as the Minister says speak out on human rights abuses torture and detention in Zimbabwe Burma and elsewhere why will he not stand up to the United States as the world’s superpower when it sets such a bad example? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I will just remind the member that this is question time. It is not the time for debate. So would the member confine his questions and ask them tersely without long speeches being attached to them. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: There is an interim report to the Special Rapporteur on Mercenaries group from the United States. There is a dialogue going on which we encourage. But I want to say this very clearly. The day I set my guidelines based on the views of the  
Dominion Post 
 I will be giving up politics. 
Keith Locke 
: Will the Government ask the US Government and visiting General John Abizaid to show the same moral leadership in the world that the Minister has said this week that New Zealand shows in the Pacific and tell the US that it cannot continue with the torture which as stated in the UN report includes beating drugging force-feeding the use of dogs exposure to extreme temperatures sleep deprivation inducing stress and prolonged isolation? 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: Let me say that I do share Mr Locke’s view that in the Pacific New Zealand is a shining light. I just want to say it is not appropriate for me or I believe for any other member of Parliament to lecture to a highly placed military person on a matter in which he has no authority or control and when the responsibility lies with someone else. 
Keith Locke 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. The Minister said in his answer that the visiting general does not have any power or control. In fact General John Abizaid is in charge of US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That is not a point of order. That is a point of debate and information. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I seek to table a map of the world showing where Iraq and Guantanamo Bay are. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Keith Locke 
: I seek leave to table documentation showing that General John Abizaid is in charge of troops in Afghanistan which does produce prisoners for Guantanamo Bay. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Keith Locke 
: I seek leave to table the UN Commission on Human Rights’ report on Guantanamo Bay. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection; it will not be tabled. 
Keith Locke 
: I seek leave to table the motion passed in the European Parliament last Thursday calling for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay facility. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Keith Locke 
: I seek leave to table the 1984 Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment which New Zealand is a signatory to and should be advocating. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I seek leave to table two documents. One is a document in support of Pol Pot and the other is in support of the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. Both are by one Keith Locke now Keith Locke MP. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table those documents. Is there any objection? There is objection.