3. Defence Force—Afghan Civilian Deaths Allegations in Hit & RunANDREW LITTLE (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterDefence Force—Afghan Civilian Deaths Allegations in Hit & Run3. ANDREW LITTLE (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Will he commission an independent inquiry into the allegations made in the book Hit & Run?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH (Prime Minister): Not at this stage. The book came out less than 24 hours ago and as I have said the Government will not be rushed into an independent inquiry. I have had an initial briefing from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) about the incident and the inquiries that have already taken place. I have also been briefed on some aspects of the allegations. On the face of it the allegations are difficult to substantiate. I will discuss these matters further with the Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Force when they return from Iraq where New Zealand has a significant number of serving Defence Force personnel. In the interim I have asked for some written advice from the NZDF.Andrew Little: Given the high regard with which New Zealanders hold their Defence Force and from the advice he has received can he be sure that no civilians were killed or injured in the NZ SAS raids in Khak Khuday Dad and Naik in August 2010?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: I have asked that question. The New Zealand Defence Force stands by the release that it put out last night—that is that on the basis of independent investigation by the Afghan Government and the coalition forces back in 2011 they believe that New Zealand Defence Force personnel conducted themselves according to the rules of engagement and that civilian casualties have not been substantiated.Ron Mark: Are we seriously suggesting that Lieutenant General Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae GNZM QSO and Knight of the Order of St John would have approved of the killing of innocent civilians by soldiers under his command and would have been complicit in a cover-up?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: Certainly the Government is not suggesting that. The authors of the book seem to be implying it but it would be fair to say they have not been able to substantiate that kind of allegation.Andrew Little: Based on the advice he has received does he know whether New Zealand personnel made any requests during the raids for fire support from the US Apache helicopters that are alleged to have killed and injured civilians on that day?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: Again we will be asking for more written advice following on from the briefing today but I think there has been a series of press releases actually that have outlined the fact that American helicopters were involved in the operation.Andrew Little: Based on the advice he has received does he know whether New Zealand personnel shot the two people found dead allegedly from gunshot wounds near the SAS position?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: Again I would not want to comment in detail on that matter. However I have been reassured that in participating in the action New Zealand Defence Force personnel did follow the rules of engagement in the way that would be expected and I think both the Parliament and the general public need to understand there is close legal scrutiny of the planning of these operations and in review of them.Andrew Little: Based on the advice he has received does he know whether New Zealand SAS personnel returned to the two villages to destroy the same houses they targeted in the initial raid; if so does he know the objective behind that decision?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: I have not received any advice on that matter.Andrew Little: Based on the advice he has received does he know whether New Zealand SAS personnel were aware that Qari Miraj was likely to be tortured when he was handed over to the Afghan National Directorate of Security; if so why did they hand him over?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: Again I have not had any advice on that particular matter. The SAS is deployed subject to very well defined terms of engagement. We expect them at all times to stick to those terms of engagement even when they are in very stressful situations. The advice I have had so far indicates that is exactly what they have done.Andrew Little: In light of his answers on these important questions and the risk these allegations pose to the reputation of New Zealand's Defence Force is it not right to commission an independent inquiry to reassure the public about our soldiers' conduct?Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH: As I have said we are not going to be rushed into such an inquiry on the basis of a book launched yesterday in a manner that you would have to describe at least as partially politically motivated. As I said to the co-leader of the Greens rebutting allegations that may or may not be substantiated—and in this case have not been substantiated—is not a good reason to embark on such a serious type of inquiry.