No subject

conditions at the animal shelter and jet noise at Teterboro Airport, the
debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters was the second face-off
for six candidates from the two major parties.

Green Party candidates Irwin Nack and Paul Forste did not show up to
challenge their opponents......

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27) The New Zealand Herald; October 6, 2003

NEW ZEALAND: ZAOUI VICTIM OF MENTAL TORTURE, SAYS LOCKE

Green MP Keith Locke is accusing the Government of being responsible for
the mental torture of Algerian asylum seeker Ahmed Zaoui and is
demanding that he be immediately moved out of Paremoremo Prison.

Mr Locke says a trauma consultant and professor of psychology, Tony
Taylor, has conducted a three-day examination of Mr Zaoui and concludes
that he has been "mentally damaged" as a result of his solitary
confinement.

"Not unexpectedly, 10 months in Paremoremo's D-Block has taken a severe
toll on Mr Zaoui's mental health," said Mr Locke, the Green Party's
Foreign Affairs spokesperson. "It would be cruel and unconscionable to
keep him in solitary confinement there for any longer."

Mr Locke has been visiting Mr Zaoui in prison regularly. He last visited
him on Friday morning.

"Mr Zaoui should have been freed after being granted refugee status by
the Refugee Status Appeals Authority. But if he is to be forced to
endure hearings on a Security Risk Certificate then it should be in the
most humane environment possible.

"There is no reason why he couldn't be transferred to the Mangere
Refugee Resettlement Centre, where most detained asylum seekers are
held.

"Since I first visited Mr Zaoui in Paremoremo last December it has been
a constant battle to improve his conditions."

Mr Locke says he is pressing the Corrections Minister, Paul Swain, to
allow Mr Zaoui to receive visitors during the week. At present he is
only allowed visitors on Sunday (although an MP can see him on any day).

Mr Locke says remand prisoners in Mt Eden prison are, by contrast,
allowed visitors four days of the week.

"Mr Swain claims Mr Zaoui is in solitary for his own protection, but
surely Mr Zaoui should have some say in this. Mr Zaoui would be much
happier mixing with other prisoners," said Mr Locke.

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