Kiwi is no protection for troops

'The New Zealand Defence Force troops to be deployed to Iraq at the end of this month will not be immune from attacks by painting a kiwi on their helmets or jeeps,' says Peace Action Wellington spokesperson Valerie Morse.

'The engineers are going to help rebuild a country that the United States and the UK devastated. We must ask the question: why are we willing to put our troops at risk and legitimise an illegal and immoral occupation?'

'The Chief of the Defence Force realises that the situation in Iraq is extremely unstable and that all foreign troops are regarded as part of the army of occupation. The attack on the UN in Baghdad last week which resulted in injuries to Major Todd Linton, is evidence of that.'

Peace Action Wellington is calling on the government to cancel its offer of troops to Iraq.

ENDS

For more information, please call Valerie Morse 383-9315 or valerie.morse@paradise.net.nz

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