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Willie Apiata - Source: ONE News -
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Defence Minister Wayne Mapp says the Defence Force will speak with the New Zealand Herald over the newspaper's decision to run a photo of two New Zealand SAS soldiers in Afghanistan, one of them Victoria Cross holder Corporal Willie Apiata.
The Herald did not name the soldiers in its caption under the photo yesterday and later said it did not know that one of them was Apiata.
The decision to run the photo landed the newspaper in conflict with the Defence Force and the government, with Prime Minister John Key saying it could put the lives of Apiata and his fellow soldiers in danger.
The New Zealand soldiers were in Kabul helping restore order after Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers attacks this week.
Dr Mapp said the Herald had broken "a long standing convention" not to name SAS soldiers, which he said was disappointing.
"The New Zealand Defence Force is certainly going to be talking to the Herald about this," he told Radio New Zealand. "I think it is appropriate they do that."
Herald assistant editor John Roughan did not believe publication put the soldiers at risk.
"That's something that we always consider, but in this case the soldiers were out in a public place, in a public street, in a major city, visible to anybody, wearing uniform, carrying their guns... there seemed no reason for the Herald or anybody else to hide their identities."
The paper would not have printed Cpl Apiata's name, he said.
He said the Defence Force may have had a convention not to name SAS soldiers, "but it is not a convention that the news media observes as far as I am aware," he told Radio NZ.
"I don't think it is a convention that news media in this country have agreed to or should agree to for forces that represent us overseas.
New Zealand Defence Force spokesman, Commander Shaun Fogarty, said publication of the photograph broke a long-standing convention - "a robust gentlemen's arrangement with all New Zealand media agencies that photos like this would not be published, which compromise the safety of our people serving the country overseas."
Key said the Herald should have blacked out the men's faces.
`The publication of the photograph put Apiata's life and the lives of other SAS soldiers at risk, Key said.
He thought it was unlikely Apiata, whom he said had a higher degree of risk representing New Zealand, would return to New Zealand before the end of his rotation.
"At the end of the day, people knew he was in the SAS and there was always the chance people might take the view that he might be back there."
Apiata was aware of publicity risks before he decided to return to service overseas. "All I can tell you is he was pretty much the first to put up his hand in wanting to go back," Key said.
Apiata won the Victoria Cross in 2004 after he hoisted a wounded comrade onto his back and carried him to safety after his SAS unit was ambushed at night on a hillside outside a village in Afghanistan.
What do you think about identifying SAS soldiers? Have your say on the messageboard below
Add a Comment:
Post new commentGetrealpeps said on 2010-01-27 @ 16:34 NZDT: Report abusive post
The soldiers there have enough on their plate without having to watch their backs even further. Why not paint a big target on NZ for radicals after highlighting that we absolutely irrefutebly have SAS on ops. Perhaps they should bring Willy back and have him explain face to face to the photographer and NZ Herald.
iwiknz said on 2010-01-26 @ 23:49 NZDT: Report abusive post
what a dumb thing to say that he should be careful about photos taken of him did he ask the photographer to take it and then stand and pose for the picture knowing that he and others could be put in danger
joev said on 2010-01-26 @ 19:06 NZDT: Report abusive post
I am an ex Soldier and believe that this is both careless and thoughtless for the press to even consider publishing pictures that would identify our SAS personnel. How do you stop a soldier? the greatest weapon the enemy have is their family, Parents, Siblings, Spouses, Children. If they are prepared to take their battle to the USA what makes you think they won't bring it to NZ. we already have moslems in NZ which of them are radical enough to attack the families of our soldiers serving overseas
Veteran44 said on 2010-01-23 @ 13:24 NZDT: Report abusive post
Publication of the photograph was very wrong. Obviously the people resonsible have never been in a dangerous situation while in service to their Country. It would be very easy to obtain the location of his Family and then it needs only one fanatic to cause them harm. Hopefully the Army will ensure their ongoing protection. I suppose the guilty Editors are proud of their dangerous and I believe, treasonable actions.
molynz said on 2010-01-23 @ 10:20 NZDT: Report abusive post
Being compromised in theatre is completely unacceptable. Special forces rely on a covert presence to work effectively so this is totally irresponsible by the media.