Kiwi is no protection for troops 

Press release: Peace Action Wellington

2 September, 2003



'The New Zealand Defence Force troops to be deployed to Iraq at the end

of this month will not be immune from attacks by painting a kiwi on

their helmets or jeeps' says Peace Action Wellington spokesperson

Valerie Morse.



'The engineers are going to help rebuild a country that the United

States and the UK devastated. We must ask the question: why are we

willing to put our troops at risk and legitimise an illegal and immoral

occupation?'



'The Chief of the Defence Force realises that the situation in Iraq is

extremely unstable and that all foreign troops are regarded as part of

the army of occupation. The attack on the UN in Baghdad last week which

resulted in injuries to Major Todd Linton, is evidence of that.'



Peace Action Wellington is calling on the government to cancel its offer

of troops to Iraq.



ENDS



For more information, please call Valerie Morse 383-9315 or

valerie.morse@paradise.net.nz

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