Mugabe rules on payouts to New Zealand criminals

Friday, 29 April 2005

News that Zimbabwe has been made a member of the UN Human Rights Committee throws more light on Phil Goff’s refusal to block pay-outs to New Zealand criminals for so-called human rights abuses, ACT Justice spokesman Stephen Franks said today.

"Mr Goff wearing his Minister of Foreign Affairs hat wants to stay in with the UN committees.

"It doesn’t matter to Labour that they consist of countries that rig elections, torture people, can’t pay their bills and can’t feed themselves," Mr Franks said.

"The UN human rights committee says prisoners must be entitled to payouts, so Labour sacrifices New Zealand sovereignty despite New Zealand law that blocks crime victims entitlement to sue for genuine suffering.

"Australia, Canada and the United States protested at the elections of representatives of vicious dictatorships. It appears New Zealand meekly curried favour with the abusers of human rights,”Mr Franks said.

ENDS

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