P.M. scorns terrorist talk

Press, 9 October 1987, Page 1

P.M. scorns terrorist talk

Political reporter The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, yesterday poured scorn on “legends” of terrorist threats, saying there were no substantial groups of subversives in New Zealand. But he warned that such legends could create an atmosphere of impending violence, and lead individuals, to respond by taking their own extreme positions. Mr Lange was speaking during debate in Parliament on the estimates for the Security Intelligence Service. The Opposition member of Parliament for Remuera, Mr Doug Graham, had told the

!i Minister that the country mtltled to' know whether was a threat to the demoprocess. Lange said there had albeen people who were rsive, but suggested that eiship of subversive ; had declined, ?: e truth ? is that we do not any substantial blocks of i that we nbw regard as rsive.” ;; '• : " New Zealand did have >r two people in Maoridom ng stories of fantastic in- .” Lange said these such s tried to convey a “sense ;

, of extraordinary power” by talk- ■" Ing of arms deals or millions of 'dollars in funds, . , , . . Such people were hardly covert, as they had ready access to the New Zealand news media. In New Zealand it was difficult to imagine a horde of people receiving Libyan training. Mr Lange also mocked the " idea of a terrorist group operating out of Aucklands’ Carrington Psychiatric Hospital. ' . The danger in such legends - was the atmosphere , of hovering violence which they created. He warned that some disturbed or insane person could ; ■ respond by running amok, in

pursuit of their own political agenda. While the task of the S.I.S. was to investigate subversion, it did not wander around chasing legends, Mr Lange said. s He again rejected the suggestion that he had instructed the SILS, not to investigate Maori ? nationalists, saying that this suggestion was "totally, absolutely and maliciously incorrect." ■--- Earlier, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bolger, said that the real issue .was the number of young unemployed New? Zealanders who could provide' ‘.‘a hatchment .Of activists” that might ? follow extremists. .