Questions hang over police raids

Since the country-wide raids on Monday we have heard about napalm bombs, military weapons, terror training camps and even threats of "war against New Zealand".

Activist Tame Iti is in the frame and is one of 17 people arrested in the raids. They face firearms charges, but authorities are considering further charges under the 2002 Suppression of Terrorism Act.

Claims that the whole operation was politically motivated and aimed at giving weight to the Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill have been dismissed by Police Minister Annette King. She says the Government had nothing to do with the raids and that she was only recently informed about the information police had and what they were planning.

Police Commissioner Howard Broad says those arrested pose a serious security threat to our country and police had good reason to conduct the raids and make the arrests.

He has complete confidence in his officers and their actions.

There are some that don't share that confidence, though. Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says Monday's police raids have set race relations in New Zealand back by 100 years. He even questions yesterday whether New Zealand security agencies might resort to planting evidence to justify their actions.

Speaking at a conference on restorative justice in Queensland yesterday, Dr Sharples said police had used "storm-trooper" tactics in raiding homes and making the arrests.

There have been others who

have expressed similar concerns regarding the raids and the subsequent aftermath.

There are two possible outcomes to the events of this week.

The first, and probably the scariest scenario, is that police are correct and there are people in our midst who are plotting

to carry out acts of terror against New Zealand and its people. If this is the case then we are in big trouble.

We need find out what would make a group (or groups) of people so disillusioned that they would resort to terror as a means of achieving their aims. We need to address those issues and take strong actions against those who plot against us.

The second possibility is that police have botched up big time. If that is the case then questions will be asked about how such a monumental blunder was allowed to take place. Public confidence in our police force, already low following several high profile cases this year, will probably reach a new low, too. It is hard to conceive, though, that police would have got it so badly wrong.

It's too early to make any harsh judgments either way yet as there are still many unknowns in the equation. The case has certainly captured the attention of all New Zealanders, who will all be watching to see where it goes from here.

- The Marlborough Express