Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Former Afghan Interpreters seek asylum in NZ

We are the five former NZDF interpreters who are excluded from the NZ resettlement packages. We continuously contacted NZ officials and asking them for the resettlement offer in New Zealand.

Recently we sent an official letter to Prime Minister, NZ Cabinet and MPs to reconsider our cases, but it seems that we have been completely ignored, although we have all records of our services and threat letters which have been written by NZPRT officials and stating that our lives are at risk.

We have served alongside NZDF troops in Bamiyan over the past 6-7 years as interprets/ translators and cultural advisors. We do not understand that what distinct us from those who were offered packages to resettle in NZ, as we are faced the same threat as they do.

The situation throughout the county has been deteriorating and those who were or are affiliated to Coalition forces or ISAF are being tracked and killed.

Most countries have offered asylum to their Afghan employees regardless of current or former employee as they realize that once the troops leave Afghanistan their employee’s will face a serious threat.

On October 2012 Defense Minister Mr. Coleman announced that NO AFGHAN INTERPRETERS WILL BE LEFT BEHIND, but unfortunately we Five former interpreters have been missed out of the offer and our services, loyalty, honesty, dedication to NZ government is completely ignored and no one even listens to our concerns, which make us to deeply regret serving the NZ Government.

Herby, we are sending this message to NZ Media to share our concerns with NZ civil society and the public to support our claim which is based on fact, attached file is the letter that we shared with NZ Officials.

NOTE: we have all our documents including threat letters to further prove our claims upon request.


ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.