"No Troops for Trade" - Labour Must Take a Stand 

Press release: Peace Action Wellington

13 September, 2003



"No Troops for Trade" is the message Peace Action Wellington will take to the streets this 

Friday and Saturday as part of a global week of action against the World Trade Organisation 

(WTO) and war.



The New Zealand Labour government is caving in to pressure from the United States to support 

military and trade policies which go against the interests and values of ordinary New Zealanders.



"Whether it’s sending troops to support US occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq, or supporting 

back-room deals at the WTO, the Labour government is showing its true stripes by siding with 

US interests" said PAW member Nick Henry.



New Zealanders marched in their thousands to oppose the invasion of Iraq, with the majority 

opposing the war. So why is Helen Clark now promising troops to support the US occupation?



Comments by US trade officials and New Zealand Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton have 

linked this military support to efforts to negotiate a US-NZ free trade agreement.



"A free trade agreement with the US would only hurt ordinary working people" said Nick Henry, 

"you only have to look at the experience of Canada and Mexico under NAFTA to see that."



"A free trade agreement just isn’t worth fighting for. It certainly isn’t worth fighting 

George Bush’s dirty wars to get."



Peace Action Wellington is calling on the Labour government to withdraw its offer of troops 

to Iraq and to take a stand against US military and economic domination.



Demonstrations have been called for Friday morning outside NZDF HQ - Stout Street and Lambton 

Quay at 7:30am, and for Saturday morning in Manners Mall from 11am.



LETTER TO MARIAN HOBBS: (a copy was left for Marian at her electorate office, shortly before 

eight people were arrested for writing with chalk on the footpath. Yay for democracy.)



Marian,



You know, as we know, that the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq were and are 

wrong.



You know, as we know, that the occupying armies are killing innocent people. That they are 

trampling on peace, justice and self-determination for the sake of power and greed.



And you know, as we know, that it is the politicians who must be held to account for the 

results of their decisions.



As a Minister of this Labour government, you cannot with a clear conscience sanction sending 

troops to support these immoral occupations. Nor can you turn a blind eye to the consequences.



We will hold you personally responsible for the lives of those Iraqi and Afghani people who 

are being killed, and for the lives of the young kiwis you are sending into the firing line.



These are human lives that no trade agreement can replace. No butter sales quota will heal 

the wounds or ease the suffering.



What are we fighting for Marian? What are they dying for?



We will continue to bring this war home to you, Marian, until you take a stand against it.



PEACE ACTION WELLINGTON

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