A preliminary police report has found there’s not enough evidence to bring a charge of assault against Chinese security guards.
Police say they have spoken to a number of witnesses following a complaint from Green Party co-leader Russel Norman who says he was roughed up by the guards.
Wellington’s police commander said officers swiftly investigated the alleged assault.
“Police have spoken to a number of people who witnessed the incident, reviewed available footage, and approached the Chinese delegation who declined to comment with information that might assist the inquiry,” Inspector Peter Cowan said.
“Within the timeframes available to us police have decided there is insufficient evidence to substantiate any assault charges at this time.”
Really anything could have happened out there: all the police had to go on was TV footage from both networks, photographic evidence, parliamentary security cameras and dozens of eye-witnesses including members of the DPS. How Dr Norman’s flag went from in his hand to being trampled underfoot by the Chinese security forces will just have to remain a mystery for the ages.
The Len Richards defense.
Comment by Barnsley Bill — June 19, 2010 @ 8:14 am
Reminds me of a time I was in court and the judge was going on about how with modern video cameras we could have stopped and edited the footage as the incident was happening, that it was only one angle etc etc etc.
Its does appear true that the law is blind
Comment by John Darroch — June 19, 2010 @ 8:25 am
Pfft. Surely there is little point in wasting police time investigating a grandstanding stunt by Norman. He got exactly what he wanted out of the incident already.
Comment by The Double Standard — June 19, 2010 @ 8:33 am
“Police say couldn’t find the security guard they were referred to by the Chinese delegation. Officer Yu Go Wei was not to be found anywhere, althought the police admit there are several suspicious car boots they don’t plan to examine for another fortnight.”
Comment by Sanctuary — June 19, 2010 @ 8:40 am
Double Standard, I don’t want Chinese security guards man-handling an elected MP. Even if his name is Russell Norman, and even if they are Greens.
Under Helen we had the police not investigating MPs for misbehaviour, now we have the police not investigating foreign security guards. A disturbing trend. How well has National adopted and improved upon Labour.
Comment by Berend de Boer — June 19, 2010 @ 8:47 am
All those journalists who had carefully crafted template stories on charges being laid against the Chinese security guys will be feeling preeetty silly about now.
Comment by har — June 19, 2010 @ 9:00 am
I had a good look at the TV footage and I suggest the police are correct. It is very hard to see any evidence of Norman being assaulted because there is none. He pushed to within a couple of metres of the VIP and was shouting.
What the hell else to you expect security people to do? Give him a cup of tea?
Comment by Adolf Fiinkensein — June 19, 2010 @ 9:50 am
“It is very hard to see any evidence of Norman being assaulted because there is none.”
Spoken like a true Chinese Government official!
Comment by nommopilot — June 19, 2010 @ 11:16 am
I had a good look at the TV footage and I suggest the police are correct.
“Nothing to see here, move on!”, a quote uttered by a Famous ex Prime Minister seems so apt.
Comment by andy (the other one) — June 19, 2010 @ 11:30 am
Double Standard:
Could you e-mail me a list of undesirables I can go out and commit crimes against with utter impunity?
Comment by Craig Ranapia — June 19, 2010 @ 11:35 am
A few years back a journalist who covered the NSW parliament took a friend along as a guest to see the workings of the lower house. The friend commented that most of the politicians had something in common – they all looked as if they’d been kicked at school. Reading this thread, it’s interesting how many of those commenting here come across as the kind of gloating toadies that sucked up to the school bully.
Comment by joe W — June 19, 2010 @ 11:45 am
“gloating toadies” , isn’t that official natianal party policy of how New Zealand as a country is to behave towards the usa.
Maybe we should have been good toadies for the Chinese as well.
Tibetan flags, green mp’s they are nothing .
…………….
Comment by nz native — June 19, 2010 @ 12:14 pm
Still, you do have to give respect to Russell Norman’s mad Jedi Ninja mind-fuck skills where one rowdy ginga with a tablecloth can reduce the courtiers of the second-most-powerful man in China to a state of sheer terror. Kewl…
Comment by Craig Ranapia — June 19, 2010 @ 12:21 pm
Yeah, did they ever think of ignoring him? all he was doing was holding up a piece of fabric!
Comment by kahikatea — June 19, 2010 @ 12:37 pm
FFS. Do you guys think the police prosecute everyone who grabs something from someone, or gives them a push? Get some perspective.
Comment by The Double Standard — June 19, 2010 @ 1:14 pm
“Do you guys think the police prosecute everyone who grabs something from someone, or gives them a push?”
But actually we’re talking about a pack of people publicly assaulting an elected representative on camera, and with several witnesses.
I wonder how those apologists for the terrible behaviour of the chinese visitors would feel if they were on the receiving end. From my perspective it looks like the law is different for these people because of the economic power of the country they represent. And I think that is a bit sh!t…
Comment by nommopilot — June 19, 2010 @ 1:32 pm
and how about John Key’s ambiguous response? he’s disappointed but won’t actually say specifically what disappoints him about the situation… wuss
Comment by nommopilot — June 19, 2010 @ 1:35 pm
I’m not an apologist for the Chinese. This should be handled as a diplomatic issue, not a police issue though. Did I hear on the radio that Phil G raised the issue with the Vice-President? Perhaps he suggested that the security officials should be sent home to consider their future?
Comment by The Double Standard — June 19, 2010 @ 2:06 pm
FFS. Do you guys think the police prosecute everyone who grabs something from someone, or gives them a push? Get some perspective.
I’ve got great perspective, Double Standard. If a DPS officer pulled this shit in Beijing (or Canberra or London or Washington), he’d be on the first plane home to face serious disciplinary action while a grovelling public apology would be demanded from the New Zealand Government.
And how about the idea of a fucking proportionate response? If you really want to argue that that was anything of the kind, you’re going to stress yourself into an early grave.
Comment by Craig Ranapia — June 19, 2010 @ 2:12 pm
“This should be handled as a diplomatic issue, not a police issue though.”
that sounds a bit different than your comments above, almost a different tune.
maybe you’re right that foreign officials should have a different set of rules about assaulting New Zealand citizens but you fail to convince me. I got taught that when you’re a visitor you should be polite and respect your hosts’ rules and culture. I don’t think this is too much to expect even from our economic overlords…
Comment by nommopilot — June 19, 2010 @ 2:13 pm
[...] Dim Post mirrors my own thoughts. Really anything could have happened out there: all the police had to go on was TV footage from both networks, photographic evidence, parliamentary security cameras and dozens of eye-witnesses including members of the DPS. How Dr Norman’s flag went from in his hand to being trampled underfoot by the Chinese security forces will just have to remain a mystery for the ages. [...]
Pingback by “Not Enough Evidence” « Something should go here, maybe later. — June 19, 2010 @ 2:55 pm
Craig: I suspect that the assailant wouldn’t make it to the airport, regardless of diplomatic status.
Comment by scrubone — June 19, 2010 @ 2:56 pm
It was a(nother) good lesson in realpolitik for us. The Chinese don’t want anyone to acknowledge what they’ve done to the Tibetans, so they can demand that uncomfortable billboards are removed from Akld airport, get buses to hide awkward views of protesters in Chch and sort out an MP in the grounds of our Parliament if he holds up a flag their boss might see. And how sad that so many kiwis are happy to play along with this farce, just to ensure they can safeguard their supply of big screen TV’s.
Pathetic!
Comment by Neil — June 19, 2010 @ 6:01 pm
At least the racists in Christchurch will be happy – Freedom to attack anyone, as long as they’re Chinese.
Since the Police seem to have lost the ability to investigate a crime with any semblence of thoroughness. Who knew that the test for if a crime is committed was, to go and ask the alleged offender, and if they say no its case closed.
Comment by Hamish — June 19, 2010 @ 6:06 pm
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllll Bllllllllaaaaaaaaacksssss
Comment by davy crockett — June 19, 2010 @ 7:21 pm
I would hope that Russel will be making a complaint to the IPCA regarding neglect of duty by the police investigating this.
If an ordinary foreign tourist was reasonably suspected of assault, would they be allowed on the plane without answering some questions?
Comment by Rich — June 19, 2010 @ 8:30 pm
At first I read the insufficient thing the same way as you Danyl, but I think perhaps where the police might be coming from is that they don’t know who to charge. Assumedly the only way to identify precisely who was doing the assaulting is with the cooperation of the Chinese delegation, which seems to have been withheld. Without names what can the police do?
Comment by Julie — June 20, 2010 @ 3:01 pm
“they don’t know who to charge”
What, you think our local security service doesn’t know the identities of the foreign agents to whom they seem to have ceded control of our Parliament’s precincts?
Following protocol, Norman would have registered his protest with the Speaker’s office who again would have shared that with relevant security agencies. They all knew full well why he was closer than other protesters were allowed, and if he weren’t allowed to be there he would have been removed by our own DPS.
Despite that, the offical Chinese media release claims “The demonstrator’s behavior posed a threat to the security and dignity of the delegation, and far exceeded the boundaries of the freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.” (The Standard has the rest of it – http://www.thestandard.org.nz/chinese-democracy-2/ )
If there were really a “security threat” they’d hardly be deploying an *umbrella* would they. It’s a threat to their national pride, and National are a threat to ours with their craven toadying. McCully is a joke who would sell out his own grandmother for a few cheap trinkets and a pat on the head.
Comment by Sacha — June 20, 2010 @ 4:33 pm
Julie wrote: “At first I read the insufficient thing the same way as you Danyl, but I think perhaps where the police might be coming from is that they don’t know who to charge.”
yeah, they had the same problem with the Kahui case, didn’t they?
Funny, you’d think some police force somewhere in the world might have developed an investigation technique for solving crimes where they don’t immediately know who did it.
Comment by kahikatea — June 20, 2010 @ 4:43 pm
I’m not defending the actions of the Chinese security guards, I think it’s unacceptable for a protester (MP or not) to be assaulted at Parliament. I’m also not defending McCully, who’s attitude seems to be I don’t agree with what you have to say and I won’t defend your right to say it (with apologies to Voltaire). It’s a disgrace that Key is taking his usual “relaxed” approach on this.
I’m just wondering how the police could really have proceeded without backing from Govt or the Speaker, and in the absence of cooperation from the Chinese delegation who then left the country the next day. Extradition from Australia perhaps?
I hope that Norman will lay a complaint with the IPCA which will hopefully uncover if there was any political pressure on the police to not investigate too hard.
Has there been any comment from the Speaker? I couldn’t find any. Isn’t that a bit weird given it happened at Parliament?
Comment by Julie — June 20, 2010 @ 5:02 pm
“they don’t know who to charge”
Yeah, those people all look the same to me too.
Comment by Craig Ranapia — June 20, 2010 @ 7:58 pm
Craig last time I encountered you on a blog you implied I was a liar and now apparently I’m a racist. You don’t always have to go for the nuclear option you know.
Perhaps you could direct your invective at the people in your own party who are either tacitly or openly supporting the actions of these security guards?
Comment by Julie — June 20, 2010 @ 9:58 pm
Julie. While being equally perturbed at another NZ govt turning their collective heads for the worlds newest superpower in much the same way as the last lot did. You have to see that Norman behaved badly. Not only was he crowding and screaming but when he got the reaction he so evidently craved he made a complete tool of himself with his squeaky voiced shriek “please Mr, can I have my balls back”.
Is this really the sort of behaviour we want to see from our parliamentarians? (was going to say elected officials, but. Hey nobody elected him to anything. He is just the lucky recipient of decades of campaigning by Rod Doanld to get a place at the trough).
Two emotions, anger at our grovelling and embarassment at the greenies lameness. The embarassment wins.
Comment by Barnsley Bill — June 20, 2010 @ 10:11 pm
Sorry about the spelling. Moving house and half light with dodgy keyboard is making the usual spulking issues worserer!
Comment by Barnsley Bill — June 20, 2010 @ 10:13 pm
I have a feeling Craig’s having a go at the security tools rather than anyone else.
Comment by Sacha — June 20, 2010 @ 10:15 pm
Julie:
If I think you’re a racist, rest assured I’ll get all the way up in your face and call you out in no uncertain terms. Meanwhile, Sacha is right — I’m taking the piss out of the Police who, I suspect, might have put a little more effort into their investigation if we weren’t talking about one of the courtiers of the Chinese Vice-President. I also shouldn’t be too surprised that China, once more, shows barely contained contempt for the legal, political and social norms of the nations where they are guests, not masters.
Comment by Craig Ranapia — June 21, 2010 @ 1:03 am
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/norman-clashes-chinese-delegation-3595942/video?vid=3596061
Perhaps the lawyers could answer: is it illegal to stand in front of a protester (whether or not he is an elected parlimentarian) whose views you may not agree with? Is it legal for a protester to use his shoulder to push someone who stands in front of him?
Dis anyone notice in this video how a gentleman with an earpiece (and I assume he is NZ DPS) came to the aid of Mr Norman? He grapped the flaggrabber, as did Russel and another gentleman wearing what appeared to be Parliament security insignia. Once the flag was recovered, the DPS officer and the Parliamnet
security chap gave the flaggrabber a lovely shove for his troubles. If someone waved a flag in my face and shouted at me, I’d have a hard time not grabbing their flag to be honest. I’d probably NOT whack them in the face with a megaphone, though. Although, do you know: I’m not sure you get charged for that in this country either.
Sense of prop
Comment by Clunking Fist — June 21, 2010 @ 2:05 pm