14 October 2002

Greens condemn vile act of terrorism

The Green Party has condemned the bombings in Bali as "vile crime".

"All New Zealanders will be in shock, because every one of us has a friend or relation who has holidayed in Bali," said Green Foreign Affairs spokesperson Keith Locke.

"It was a vile crime, and we should cooperate fully with the Indonesian authorities to make sure those responsible are brought to justice."

Mr Locke said this atrocity also underlined the importance of New Zealand meeting its regional responsibilities.

"At this difficult time, we should extend the hand of friendship to the Indonesian people to help them make their country prosperous, fully democratic and religiously tolerant," he said.

"We must help the Indonesian people overcome the social divisions that have bred terrorism in their country.

"We mourn the hundreds who died in this massacre. Our heart goes out to those New Zealanders whose family members were killed or injured.

"While we will continue to debate in our Parliament how best to combat terrorism, today is not the day for petty political infighting as to who is the most 'anti-terrorist'," said Mr Locke.

ENDS

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