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NEWS RELEASE

Friday, September 21

The Auckland Women's Centre was shocked and grieved by the deaths of so many people following the airplane bombing in the US last week, and urges the Government to wage peace in its response to those acts of terrorism.

"We are opposed to terrorism and attacks on civilians wherever they happen," says Women's Centre Co-ordinator Jacqui Fill. "Military reprisals and punishment raids are themselves terrorist and will escalate the situation," she says. "Women and children often bear the brunt of attacks on civilian targets."

Those responsible for the airplane bombings in the US should be brought to justice in international courts.

"We urge the Prime Minister to refuse to allow New Zealand troops or resources to take part in any so-called 'war against terrorism'," says Ms Fill

The centre's Annual General Meeting last week unanimously resolved that creating greater economic and social justice and equality for all people of the world is the only way to end terrorism.

"The centre recognises that people in many nations see the US itself as training, supporting or carrying out terrorist actions," says Ms Fill. These actions include the ongoing daily bombing of Iraq, and US-run training camps for right wing terrorists in Central and South America.

Information-
Jacqui Fill, Co-ordinator, Auckland Women's Centre, phone 09 376 3227

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