Last week, in an article in Metro, journalist Jon Stephenson revealed how NZ government policies had made the SAS complicit in torture. In the process, he raised serious questions about the suitability of Governor-General designate Jerry Mateparae, who appears to have lied to Parliament in an effort to cover up the policy.
Yesterday, in response to calls from the Greens and Labour (who are implicated as well), as well as human rights group Amnesty International for a full and independent inquiry, both the Prime Minister and the defence force responded. Both basically called Stephenson a liar who had fabricated his story.
So, its basically a question of who you believe: a journalist with sources, or a government and military with a history of deceit and every reason to lie.
Not much of a contest, is it?
