letter to the editor

Letter to the Editor

My wife and I arrived in New Zealand in the early 1970s.We love this country and are proud to be Citizens, impressed by the warmth and generosity of New Zealanders, their laid-back approach to life, plus the freedom to be anyone, do anything here.

But two recent incidents have disturbed us and made us unsure of our faith in this Government. One, the intolerant treatment of Ahmed Zaoui. The other, the brutal deportation of the Sri Lankan girl handcuffed and apparently drugged. Of course we cannot be informed with all the facts that presumably the government is.

Both these unfortunate people decided to come to New Zealand to begin a new life, because they believed that this was one country that shows compassion and concern for humanity.

How wrong could they be. Instead, they have been treated disgracefully and in a manner that we can only describe as close to facism. In the Zaoui case it appears that the Government has been misinformed and has behaved with absolute arrogance from the start.

Come on New Zealand. Lobby this Government and show that we are a country that has true compassion.