New openness on SAS Afghanistan operations

'They're not there to eat their lunch'

PHILIP POUPIN

This map shows the location of SAS troops during a militant attack in Kabul, Afghanistan.

ARMED: SAS members in Kabul, Afghanistan. Victoria Cross winner Corporal Willie Apiata is on the right.

This map shows the location of a militant attack in Afghanistan.

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The Government and Defence Force have broken their silence over SAS operations in Afghanistan after an outcry over media coverage of SAS soldiers including Victoria Cross medal winner Willie Apiata in Kabul.

It has also been revealed that Corporal Apiata was told to take more care to keep his identity hidden after photographs were published showing him without his helmet after an attack in Kabul.

Prime Minister John Key today admitted the Government and defence force had been grappling with the traditional secrecy surrounding SAS operations after their deployment to Kabul where a large number of international media were based.

Mr Key said there would be greater openness, but only on a case by case basis, as a result of the furore last week over the refusal to detail what the SAS were doing in Kabul despite photographs and eyewitness accounts.

Mr Key told today's media conference: "They're not there to eat their lunch in Afghanistan".

The first step in making operations more open was made by Chief of Defence Jerry Mateparae, who yesterday outlined the action that led to Corporal Apiata's photograph being taken and a run down on what the SAS had been doing since their deployment to Afghanistan.

Major General Mateparae revealed that the SAS had so far not fired a shot in Afghanistan and also revealed that Corporal Apiata had removed his helmet as SAS members were on their way back to base at the conclusion of their operations.

He confirmed that Corporal Apiata had been spoken to and told to take more care protecting his identity but said he had not broken any rules in removing his helmet.

THE APIATA PHOTOGRAPH: WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY

Lieutenant General Mateparae said the photographs of the battle followed a day-long operation which began at around 9.30am in Kabul.

He confirmed that the scale of the incident meant the entire SAS taskforce was on standby but only a small group was actually deployed to the area.

At 2.20pm, a further SAS team reinforced the Afghan special operations unit. At 3pm the Afghan National Army reported they had cleared the last building of insurgents and the operation was complete. At 3.10pm, two SAS soldiers, including Corporal Apiata, were photographed returning to the holding area and by 3.30pm all personnel had withdrawn to base camp.

Mr Mateparae said the SAS had relayed information to headquarters which "entailed them moving in and around their holding area".

"No [SAS soldier] fired his weapon, took part in an assault, or cleared any occupied buildings. Their role in this particular operation was very limited."

Corporal Apiata and his colleague had been photographed shortly after confirming with American forces that the incident had been resolved.

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