Tuesday, 18 December 2001, 9:13 am Press Release: Green Party
17 December 2001
Green Defence spokesperson Keith Locke
said today the two Hercules which are due to arrive in
Afghanistan shortly should have been contributing to the aid
effort, not to the war.
"The Afghan people have suffered
enough from the US-led bombing campaign. Now is the time for
airborne resources to help bring food aid to those bombed
and displaced by the war," said Mr Locke.
"Instead of
sending two Hercules to help the war, and then white-washing
the situation with one to bring food aid later, we should
have committed both Hercules this week to the World Food
Programme for Afghanistan."
Mr Locke said New Zealand
should never have committed our SAS troops to the war in the
first place, let alone be rushing to join in at the tail end
of a campaign.
"Surely this is the time to begin
rebuilding Afghanistan with aid, not to continue bombarding
it or interfering in its affairs with foreign troops," said
Mr Locke.
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