Media Release: SAS to Afghanistan shameful

From: Peace Action Wellington

Date: June 1, 2005



'The deployment of more Special Air Service (SAS) troops to Afghanistan is

shameful. Prime Minister Helen Clark is helping the US military in committing

human rights violations and illegally occupying the country' said Peace Action

Wellington member Valerie Morse



The SAS have been deployed to Afghanistan on two previous occassions since the

start of the so-called 'War on Terrorism'. In both instances, they participated

in 'direct action missions' which translates to combat involving the death of

civilians. In June of 2004, one SAS soldier was injured in a gun battle.



'The US occupation of Afghanistan is a stunning failure. The country is no

better off than it was under the Taliban. Four years of war and the country is

in ruins, political stability is as far away as ever. Woman and children are

being killed, opium production is soaring and US war profiteers are making a

killing. Meanwhile, the people of Afghanistan are being murdered on a daily

basis. At one point, an average of 62 innocent civilans a day were being killed

in Afghanistan by Bush's coalition of the willing.'



'The New Zealand Defence Force must refuse to fight in these illegal wars of

occupation involving gross human rights violations. The Prime Minister is using

them as a political tool to advance her free trade agenda. The losers are the

Afghani people and the soldiers who come home in body bags'



ENDS