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| Jon Stephenson |
Nine insurgents (not 12 as reported) were killed in the
operation which targeted an insurgent group in the area where Bamyan province
borders neighbouring Baghlan province...
Following the operation allegations of civilian casualties
were made. These were investigated by a
joint Afghan Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior and International
Security Assistance Force Assessment team, in accordance with ISAF procedures.
The investigation concluded that the allegations of civilian
casualties were unfounded.”
New Zealand Defence Force - Media Release – 20 April 2011
Six years later, to the day, investigative reporter
Nicky Hager and war Correspondent Jon Stephenson have released a book (Hit
& Run: The New Zealand SAS in Afghanistan and the meaning of honour). It reveals what they believe to be the truth
behind the “tragic and disastrous SAS actions” and allege that “at least 21
civilians were killed or injured – many of them women and children.” They have even recorded their names and
documented their lives in the book, including 3-year-old Fatima, who was killed
as her mother, carrying her, tried to dive for cover.
 |
| ‘Although Fatima was only three years old she was already attending school,’ a local said. ‘She was very beautiful and intelligent. She was in her mother’s arms when a piece of shrapnel hit her head.’ |
 |
| Fatima's house (central house in picture), which was badly damaged at the same time she was killed. Fatima had been carried a short distance behind and to the left of the house before she was killed in her mother's arms. |
They also claim that the attack went further, leading to the
blowing up and burning of at least a dozen houses by SAS and US forces and then
later, a second village raid destroying more property before one single
insurgent was caught. He was handed over
to the Afghan secret police and tortured.
Hager also claimed in his press conference, held after the
launch that the real insurgents, still very much alive, had actually attended the
funerals of the civilians (from that 21).
This he said was recorded on video and sold to authorities. He hadn’t seen the tape, he conceded.
This book, he said, was an investigation into the truth
behind the story of these raids and the cover up that was conducted not only by
the NZDF but also by The Defence Minister at the time, Wayne Mapp and the Prime
Minister at the time, John Key, who had actually authorised the attacks by
telephone.
He made no bones about linking the connection between the
raids and the recent death of a New Zealander, Lt Tim O’Donnell, who was killed
by a roadside bomb in August 2010. One
journalist asked if this was a revenge attack that he was alluding to but he
was careful not to answer this conclusively.
 |
| Nicky Hager and the press |
Hager said that he and Stephenson had been given the story,
they hadn’t sought it out. And that was
one of the compelling reasons to pursue it.
Both Hager and Stephenson emphasised several times during the book
launch that the book was based on ‘numerous and extensive interviews with
people involved in these events, including New Zealand and Afghan military
personnel as well as residents of the village.”
Hager did also add that he had not approached Key or Mapp for comment
because he believed that although they may have known the truth they were not
likely to reveal anything or even to reply in any way.
Hager’s book was released today and will be available
through most of the usual retail outlets including Unity Books.
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