A former Taupo man says the police have been inactive and deceitful in investigating an alleged ‘homophobic mob attack' on him and his brother. “Dare I say it, this New Zealand is obviously not a safe place to be gay, or possibly any other minority for that matter,” Matt Adlam tells GayNZ.com. The incident occurred near Finn MacCuhals pub on Taupo's Tuwharetoa St at 2:15 am on the 27th of December, and was reported to the police at 10am that day, Adlam explains. “Initially the fighting involved myself vs the mob, whereby, I think, but did not see, my brother, Simon, pull me out. We then headed home. Upon arriving home we decided to return back to the bar at approximately 3am. The crowd had not dispersed. “My brother exited the car to head towards the bar. He was then attacked by the mob. He eventually escaped and we departed quickly. While driving away, the mob again attacked us in the car, which sustained about $2000 of damage. Worse yet, my brother came away with two broken ribs, a lot of cuts and grazes, and a hefty concussion, as indicated by partial memory loss, tachycardia, confusion, and dizzy spells.” Matt's brother Simon Adlam told the Taupo Times early the following day: “I lost count of how many times I was punched and drop-kicked.” The newspaper reporter insisted they report the incident to the local police. Matt says both he and his brother gave statements to the police immediately after speaking with the newspaper at about 9am. Senior Sergeant Tony Jeurissen later said in the Waikato Times that police were investigating the incident but were at a disadvantage because the attack was reported a few days later. “I think the "delay in reporting to police" is deceitful and overplayed, shadowing the key issues,” Matt Adlam says. “Where were the bouncers when required? The bar management states that it is not responsible for activity beyond the perimeter of the bar. Moreover they say they did not see anything. When I went down, my head was less than half a metre from the bouncer's feet. “These bouncers stood by ignorant of what was happening right in front of them. Do they not have some social responsibility to intervene? Would they have allowed these incidents to occur if it were another form of bigotry, for example racism?” Adlam explains that until recently the police maintained a presence at the bar, because of fighting. “However, they stopped policing this area with personnel when a police officer was attacked. This is not the most courageous way of dealing with street violence,” Adlam opins. “How about the two video cameras aimed at the scene? No evidence has been found on either video camera, moreover the bar management outright denies any violence occurring either on video or as witnessed by the bouncers,” Adlam continues. “ Why had the violent mob not been dispersed, and why had the police not been informed by anyone? Again, I question social responsibility amongst those that observed the violence, including the staff of the bar.” In conclusion, the brothers, now living overseas, say they are totally dumbfounded by the ‘ignorant bigotry' displayed by the bar owner, his staff, the mob of Taupo and observing public. “I believe the inactivity and deceitful actions of the police aimed to undermine the belittle these hate-driven assaults. In most other countries these assaults are called Hate Crimes, and are dealt with very seriously, swiftly, and with sensitivity to the victim. Furthermore they carry very significant sentences in prison. “These senseless acts of violence illustrate that New Zealand does require Hate Crime law to protect minorities against bigoted mobs. These acts are Hate Crimes, as are any other acts that are aimed at a racial or religious group or person. “Quite clearly, our story illustrates that Hate Crimes occur in New Zealand, and these acts are tolerated by the State and by the public.” Ref: GayNZ.com, Waikato Times (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Tuesday, 9th January 2007 - 12:00pm