No NZ support for the War on Terror

Peace Action Wellington has been actively organising against the so-called 'War on Terrorism' since September 2001. Our campaign focuses both on the military occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the assault on freedoms and civil liberties in Aotearoa under the guise of fighting terrorism. The New Zealand Government has deployed special forces (the SAS) to Afghanistan to assist in so-called 'direct action missions'. It has deployed Army engineers to assist the British occupation of Basra. It has also passed significant anti-terrorism legislation including the Terrorism Suppression Act, the Border Security Act, the Maritime Security Act, the Telecommunications (Interception Capability) Act and significant amendments to the Crimes Act. All of these laws significantly impinge upon the civil liberties of citizens.

Why NZ must END support for the ‘War on Terrorism’

( Leaflet to download )

Attack on Afghanistan: An immoral response

We all want to live without fear and violence, but the ‘War on Terrorism’ is impossible to win. It is a false war that has no clear definition, objectives, or end. The ‘War on Terrorism’ is in fact the new means for controlling everyday life, repressing dissent, and fostering intolerance.

The attack on 11 September 2001 was used as a justification for the bombing and invasion of Afghanistan. This is despite the fact that the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, not Afghanistan, and that the Taliban government offered to hand over Osama bin Laden for trial in Pakistan.

The US invasion of Afghanistan has not succeeded in making the world a safer place.

It has only succeeded in killing more than 3000 people, and installing an ineffectual puppet government in Kabul.

New Zealand was quick to offer up assistance to the United States. After all, ending terrorism IS a very good idea. Unfortunately, supporting an attack on the people of Afghanistan is hardly the most effective way to combat terrorism.

New Zealand’s first offer to the US was for the SAS, a group of highly trained combat soldiers. These NZ troops were involved in identifying targets and directing bombing raids that resulted in the deaths of innocent people.

New Zealand is also supplying a Navy frigate and Orion aircraft, which are involved in surveillance, and escorting US military supplies through the Gulf of Hormuz to Afghanistan and Iraq.

The cluster bombs were still falling on Afghanistan when the Bush administration prepared to invade Iraq. Throughout 2002, the rhetoric was stepped up about the ‘imminent threat’ posed by ‘Saddam’s Weapons of Mass Destruction’. US cable TV was running a 24-hour news channel called ‘Countdown to Iraq’.

The bombing and invasion of Iraq by the USA and UK has killed thousands of innocent people, and is drawing the troops into the quagmire of an indefinite occupation, to which resistance is growing daily.

The Bush administration has now admitted that they had no new evidence of a threat from Iraq. Some of the evidence they claimed to have was in fact forged, and that Iraq may not actually have any ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’.

The New Zealand government refused to support the invasion of Iraq without a UN mandate. But NZ still supported the invasion indirectly by keeping its frigate and Orion in the gulf to escort US supplies. NZ also remains a part of the US ‘military intelligence’ network through the Waihopai spy base.

Our government listens to public pressure ­ just think about our nuclear-free status. We can change the government’s support for both the ‘War on terrorism’ and the sending of New Zealand troops to Iraq by writing to Members of Parliament. You can send a letter demanding the government end its support: letters are freepost to Parliament Buildings, Wellington or send an email ­ all email addresses are formulated:

firstname.lastname@parliament.govt.nz

You can get more involved in mobilising people against the attacks on the people of Iraq and Afghanistan with Peace Action Wellington. The group is open to all with an interest in peace, justice and self-determination. The group meets Monday evenings, 7pm at 203 Willis Street. The email address is peacewellington@hotmail.com

You can also put make your voice heard by signing the ‘Not in Our Name’ pledge available on the Peace Movement Aotearoa website:
http://www.converge.org.nz/pma

If the world community is serious about reducing terrorist attacks, we should start by providing adequate food, clean water, and sanitation for the 3-4 billion people on the planet who currently live everyday without these basic necessities. Instead of spending billions on guns and bombs, we could use this money for medical care and education.

We can also reduce the threat of terror by giving tangible effect to international law and UN Security Council Resolutions, such as the one calling for Israel to withdraw from the Occupied Territories.