Mongrel Mob campaign gets commission support

Press, 28 January 1988, Page 15

Mongrel Mob campaign gets commission support

PA Auckland A Mongrel Mob campaign for a grievance committee and other reforms at Paremoremo Maximum Security prison has gained the support of the Human Rights Commission. The Minister of Justice, Mr Palmer, in December supported a decision by prison management to reject the Mongrel Mob proposal for a grievance committee. In a confidential letter to Mr Palmer before Christmas, the Human Rights Commission supported the proposal and “positive Mongrel Mob initiatives.” The Mongrel Mob has campaigned for three

months to have a grievance committee that would include Maori elders, prison staff, a lawyer, psychologist, and representatives from the Human Rights Commission, Race Relations Office and Matua Whangai. The campaign has included a prolonged hunger strike within Paremoremo, hui with various Maori groups, and a visit to the Beehive which saw four men arrested for trespass. The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Mel Smith, said that under existing law prisoners could take grievances to prison inspectors, visiting justices, the Ombudsman, Race Relations office or the

Human Rights Commission. On the question 7 of greater access for Maori elders, Mr Smith said a meeting of kaumatua (elders) is planned for early this year to determine who would be appropriate Maori visitors for Paremoremo. The Human Rights Commissioner, Mr Graeme Mac Cormack, said the commission had received several representations on the questions of the grievance committee and access for Maori elders. The commission would be making positive submissions to the prison systems review committee chaired by Sir Clinton Roper.