Media Release: March in opposition to the NZ Government's Pacific Island

Incursions

Date: 30 November 2006

From: Peace Action Wellington



Peace Action Wellington (PAW) opposes the recent incursion of New Zealand

troops and cops into Tonga, and New Zealand's role as increasingly viewing

itself as the 'policeman' of the entire South Pacific.



The New Zealand Government's continued meddling as 'Sheriff of the

Pacific' has prompted PAW to hold a march and street theatre in Wellington

on Friday 1 December, leaving Manners Mall (Cuba Mall end) at 12 noon and

marching to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Headquarters in Stout

Street.



"Goff, Clark and Peters will have us believe that New Zealand troops are

engaged in peacekeeping, yet the question seldom asked is whose peace is

the

NZDF keeping and whose interests are they really serving," said Peace Action

Wellington member, Valerie Morse.



"In Tonga New Zealand troops and cops have been doing nothing less than

solidifying the corrupt regime of a feudal king."



"These military incursions are really just thinly veiled neo-colonial

invasions intended to ensure that Pacific Island nations adhere to a

global

neo-liberal agenda to serve the wealthy nations of the Pacific rim," said

Valerie Morse. "An agenda that includes the privatisation of state assets

and the ongoing push to secure free trade deals - where the free flow of

capital and commerce reigns supreme over the well-being of citizens."



In the Solomon Islands New Zealand is assisting an Australian

multinational

mining corporation secure its access to the lucrative gold mine on the

island of Guadalcanal, all under the benign sounding Regional Assistance

Mission Solomon Islands (RAMSI).



"Peace Action Wellington demands an end to all New Zealand military

invasions in the Pacific. We support self determination for the people of

the Pacific that includes freedom from Western capitalist

intervention," concluded Valerie Morse.