Anti-crime group wants triad apology from chairman - 12 Jul 2008 - NZ Herald: New Zealand National news


Anti-crime group wants triad apology from chairman

5:00AM Saturday July 12, 2008
By Lincoln Tan

Committee members of the Asian Anti-Crime Group are asking chairman Peter Low to retract what he said about bringing triads to New Zealand and apologise.

But Mr Low is adamant nothing like that would happen.

About 15,000 people took part in a protest march organised by the AAG last Saturday, calling for the Government to get tough on crime. After the march, Mr Low told reporters he would bring in triad gangsters to protect the Asians if the authorities did not act act.

A committee member, who did not want to be named, told the Herald that the committee has asked Mr Low to withdraw his statement, apologise and organise a media conference to "clear the misunderstanding".

"We have absolutely nothing to do with triads or gangsters, and if Peter had used the word 'triad' to get media attention, then he has done a good job," said the member. "Now, it's time for him to just say sorry for any misunderstanding he has caused because of that, so we can focus on our central message on crime and move on."

Another committee member, who also did not want to be identified, said: "His statements not only lost us the support of 15,000 people, we also lost our credibility."

But yesterday, Mr Low insisted he had said and done nothing wrong.

"Did I say we are a triad or gangsters? I didn't," he said yesterday.

"It's what they think and what they heard, and if I didn't do or say anything wrong, I have nothing to apologise."

Mr Low said any misunderstanding on the triads had been "created by the media, ministers and police" and he would be "letting them calm down" before organising a press conference to clarify his position.

Multiple burglary victim Tan Tee Seang, who participated in last week's march, said he visited Mr Low yesterday to express his continued support.

"Crime is a serious issue, and no one else in the Asian community has had the courage to stand up to speak for us like Peter did," said Mr Tan, whose house was burgled eight times in two months last year.

"I am thankful he has brought the subject of Asians as victims of crime to the forefront for debate for the election".
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This story was found at: Anti-crime group wants triad apology from chairman - 12 Jul 2008 - NZ Herald: New Zealand National news

instead of hiring triads, they should get regular Asian Americans who are all too eager to show these lame kiwi crooks what the inside of their skulls look like.

Satisfied? You know, I really hope so because God knows you need some satisfaction in life besides shagging Captain Cardboard and I never really liked you anyway and... and you have stupid hair. Spike

I'm from NZ but while not in Auckland I'm a bit torn on this. It's wrong to take matters into your own hands... but what is one to do when the police fail to do their job properly

Exactly. Are they to wait until someone else killed them off?
Too bad so few people understand that there are some moments in life where it's about survival and one can't just wait for an official party to step in if they are not as fast as the situation demands.
And believe me, officials can be so damn slow that the problem "solved itself" (aka all victims are dead already) in some cases.
I am not surprised when some people don't just want to wait for that.

Lieber stehend sterben als kniend leben!


http://www.flickr.com/photos/lalense/

I agree with Low. If you feel unsafe in the streets, and kiwis police couldn't care less if you got killed, then I would hire triads myself to protect me.

At that point, who gives a shit what the kiwi gov't thinks.