We hope MFAT CEO Simon Murdoch reads Poneke. He will be embarrassed if he does. Poneke reports his dealings with MFAT's media adviser over arrested Saudi blogger Fouad al-Farhan. It is interesting that MFAT's Emma Reilly is only allowed to speak to journalists (maybe MFAT views bloggers with the same suspicion as the Saudi authorities). Typically Minister Peters' office has not responded to enquiries. No doubt they are focusing on more important issues, such as the wording for the press release on the appointment of New Zealand's next High Commissioner to the Cook Islands. Was it prioritisation like this that has seen Trans Tasman rate Winston as the most successful Foreign Minister since Brian Talboys?
While New Zealand seems intent on side stepping the issue of freedom of expression (possibly because the Electoral Finance Act makes it less free to express oneself here) Fouad al-Farhan is spending his 64th day in prison, where some are concerned he is being tortured. Even the international media is losing interest. This is one of the two most recent reports on his case.
