No resumption of military ties with Indonesia!
MEDIA RELEASE
From: Peace Action Wellington
Date: 10 May 2007
Friday is a day of action against the resumption of military ties with Indonesia. The New Zealand Government will resume military ties with the Indonesian Government this month. An Indonesian officer will attend the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Command and Staff College course in Trentham which begins on May 14, 2007. The NZDF website says that “the aim of the Staff Course is to provide an advanced Service education to selected officers so that they may prepare themselves for high grade command and staff appointments.” This means training the Indonesian military to better direct the killing of people.
“Helen Clark and Phil Goff are operating in a totally underhanded manner. Last year, they gave public assurances that New Zealand was not considering changing its military relationship with Indonesia, which has been suspended since 1999. It seems that was all a lie, a ruse, to hide a growing relationship with the murderous armed forces of Indonesia, the notorious TNI” said Peace Action Wellington member Valerie Morse
“Peace Action Wellington supports the work of the Indonesian Human Rights Committee in Auckland in their tireless work to highlight the grave abuses being committed by the Indonesian military against people in West Papua. We also offer our support to all the people in Auckland who are taking action outside of the Defence Headquarters on Friday.”
Peace Action Wellington launched the Troops Out Now Campaign on ANZAC day at the Wellington dawn ceremony. As part of this campaign, we are calling upon the New Zealand government to cease all military training and exercises with all foreign militaries.
ENDS
ANZAC Day Protest — Lest we forget: already forgotten
MEDIA RELEASE
From: Peace Action Wellington
Date: 25 April 2007
Members of Peace Action Wellington (PAW) demonstrated at the Wellington ANZAC Day dawn service this morning, displaying banners that said "Lest We Forget: Already Forgotten - Afghanistan, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste" and "Conscientious Objectors: the real war heroes."
"ANZAC Day has ceased to be a day where we commit to 'never again', and has instead become nothing less than a celebration of the New Zealand military and the glorification of war," said Valerie Morse, Peace Action Wellington member.
"Lest we forget that the New Zealand military is currently engaged in combat in Afghanistan, the Solomon Islands and Timor Leste. Lest we forget that the New Zealand military is currently deployed in 18 different missions around the world."
"Lest we forget that the military has, and always will, exist for the sole purpose of waging war," said Valerie Morse.
This morning's demonstration also marks the launch of Peace Action Wellington's 'NZ Troops Out Now' campaign. For further information about the campaign, go to www.nztroopsoutnow.org
"Peace Action Wellington demands the immediate withdrawal of all New Zealand troops and the cessation of all military training and joint exercises with other armies," concluded Valerie Morse.
ENDS
More Troops Leave for Timor Leste
NEWS
Date: 19 April 2007
Two New Zealand Defence Force Iroquois helicopters and 32 members of the NZDF are set to leave Ohakea Airbase for Timor Leste on Monday .
The first of the two Iroquois with crew will leave Ohakea Air Force Base on an Air Force C-130 Hercules 8am on Monday and the second helicopter will follow later in the week.
The helicopters will reportedly significantly enhance the capabilities of the Australian-led Combined Joint Task Force currently based in the country.
The Combined Joint Task Force already includes 150-strong New Zealand Defence Force personnel who are operating in Dili.
They will remain in Timor Leste for approximately three months as the first rotation of what will be a 12 month deployment.
Kiwi troops contribute to terrorism
MEDIA RELEASE
From: Peace Action Wellington
Date: 11 April 2007
The NZDF is preparing to send another round of troops off to Afghanistan to contribute to the on-going occupation of the country by US and NATO troops.
“Phil Goff would have us believe that the NZDF is all about peacekeeping and reconstruction in Afghanistan. But six years on, there is no more peace or stability in Afghanistan than there was when the US started bombing the country” said Peace Action member Valerie Morse.
“When you consider that there are more than 20,000 US troops in the country, it is really not surprising that there is continuing conflict. The New Zealand troops are effectively there to support the US-puppet government in Kabul and to prop up numbers.”
“The government has done a good propaganda job convincing New Zealanders that NZDF deployments to Afghanistan are necessary and beneficial. If we look behind the rhetoric, it is easy to see that this is just another battlefield in Bush's imperial war of conquest. Clark and Goff want to be sure to stay on the right side of the US by offering up troops. It is a sick bit of double-speak.”
“Goff's revelations of SAS involvement in handing over Afghanis to the US military is evidence of NZ's complicity in the subjugation of the local population there.”
“When will the Labour government realise that supporting US wars of aggression only support terrorism, not stop it? Thousands of Afghani people have been murdered in bombing raids and unprovoked assassinations since 2001. Genuine peace and stability can only be achieved when the occupation ceases.”
Peace Action Wellington is committed to stopping the involvement of New Zealand troops in overseas wars. For more details, check out www.peacewellington.org
Troops leave from Ohakea Air Force Base, near Levin, on Thursday at 9am.
ENDS