Friday 22 March 2019

Petition call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Christchurch Terror

Greg Rzesniowiecki has initiated a petition to NZ Parliamentary Representatives;

Establish a Royal Commission into Christchurch Terror Attack 15 March 2019

Petition request

That the House of Representatives urge the New Zealand Government to establish a Royal Commission into the Christchurch Mosques terror attacks of Friday, 15 March 2019, including any intelligence and police failures that enabled the terrorists to evade capture until they had perpetrated their acts.

Petition reason

I believe that the Christchurch Mosque terror attacks are a catastrophic failure on a number of levels, intelligence ignored, focus on incorrect targets for surveillance, loose supervision of gun laws, ease of access to military armaments;

https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/17-03-2019/we-warned-you-we-begged-we-pleaded-and-now-we-demand-accountability/

and that the focus on Muslim terrorists is premised on the bogus war on terror that is predicated on bogus intelligence as to the cause of 9/11.

Petition link on NZ Parliament website:

https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/petitions/document/PET_86241/petition-of-greg-rzesniowiecki-establish-a-royal-commission

The petition is set to close 1 April 2019. Parliament resumes Tuesday 2 April and sits for two weeks. I expect that I will quickly find a Member of the House to formally sponsor the petition, given a number of MPs have already stated a demand for a Royal Commission. The following passages from David Seymour MP on behalf of ACT in the “Ministerial Statements - Mosque Terror Attacks—Christchurch” Tuesday 19 March says it as well as anyone could;

But let us also remember the words of the Canadian author, Naomi Klein, who warned in her, Shock Doctrine that "in moments of crisis, people [can be] willing to hand over a great deal of power". It is important that we maintain our tradition of sober, robust law-making at all times but especially now. Clearly, there are policy issues that must be addressed. Some of them have already been raised today and they relate to gun laws, to speech and social media, and the performance of the security and intelligence services. It is critical that we get these issues right and that any changes are relevant to, and effective at, solving the problems that have been so nakedly laid bare in the past four days.

It would be a shame to fall for the old fallacy that we must do something: "This is something, so let's do this thing." On the issue of security and intelligence, in particular, we need to know how it is possible that what has happened, has happened and what might be done to prevent it from happening again. Given that it involves the performance of Government agencies, I cannot see how the issue arising could be visited by anything less than a royal commission reporting to the Governor-General at arm's length from the Government of the day.

Hansard record 19 March 2019: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansD_20190319_20190319

In the House Wednesday 20 March there was a debate in respect to “Christchurch Mosques Terror Attacks—Condolence” moved by Hon Kelvin Davis; I move

That this House express its sorrow to the victims, families, and communities of the terrorist attack on the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch, promise to protect Muslim New Zealanders and their right to be safe from fear, assert that they are us, and acknowledge the effect of the tragedy on the whole of New Zealand.

Speaking in the debate the Hon. David Carter MP (previous Speaker of the House) reinforced the call for a Royal Commission referencing Hon. Gerry Brownlee's statement of Tuesday 19 March. David Carter also tied the Christchurch Terror Attack to the 9/11 attack on the US, stating that had changed New Zealand;

I was in Christchurch on Friday afternoon, with you, Mr Speaker. As the events unfolded we were at Canterbury University, which was quickly locked down, as indeed were schools—where my child was—factories, and the offices throughout the city. It was the uncertainty of not knowing whether it was a single gunman, or whether we were dealing with multiple attacks that was extremely concerning to me. When we're told subsequently of the way this murderer planned and trained for this day of terror, I do ask why the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service and the GCSB were so unaware? Should this terrorist have been on a security watch list? I think the answer to that is yes. The Hon Gerry Brownlee yesterday called for a royal commission of inquiry into this and I agree with him.

The final point I wish to make is to disagree, respectfully, with those who say, "On Friday, 15 March 2019, New Zealand changed for ever". I think the world and New Zealand changed for ever with 9/11, 2001. Sadly, I think there was an inevitability that terrorism would hit New Zealand. It was only a matter of when. But I never thought it would be my home city, the city of Christchurch; the city that has been through so much, the city that was finally coming right, and now we have to cope with this. But we are resilient; we will overcome this dreadful act of terror.

But, again, for the families of the loved ones, this pain will not be overcome. They have been given a life sentence as their family members were on their knees, praying for a better world. My deepest sympathy to these people. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hansard record 20 March 2019: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansD_20190320_20190320

I believe it is imperative that a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch Terror Attack is initiated as soon as is possible to ensure that the evidence available as to any cause or contributing factor is protected from corruption so that it can be carefully assessed in a transparent and public manner, so that the lessons available are well learned.

My object and I trust the Government's intent where it agrees to establish the requested Royal Commission would be to find the truth – the whole truth and nothing but the truth – so help us all.

My strong recommendation is that the Royal Commission faithfully report publicly all findings of fact.

Please sign and share the petition:

https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/petitions/document/PET_86241/petition-of-greg-rzesniowiecki-establish-a-royal-commission

Greg Rzesniowiecki

ends

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