"Navy Veterans To Rain On PM's Parade."

September 9, 2011 will mark the official opening of Rugby World Cup, 2011, with the first match scheduled for that day, at Auckland's Eden Park when the eyes of the world will focus down-under for this rugby extravaganza.

With millions of taxpayers money behind the funding, and it being election year here in New Zealand, the reigning National party government would obviously have been hoping to have made good capital of its success, but it seems, not all is as it should be in the land the locals refer to as God's Own, and coinciding with the official opening, disgruntled military veterans plan to protest the clandestine removal of lawful support once enjoyed, as this same government attempts to claw back spending

Navy veterans National President, and protest organizer, Rod Hinchco says, 'They will be coming in wheelchairs and on mobility scooters, those unable to march, and the protest will include the widows of fallen veterans, their children who have been deprived of a father, or even support as is provided for by law, and the families and friends of veterans.

Whilst this protest is being organized under the banner of the navy veterans, veterans of all services will be taking part, and it may well include a number of currently serving, armed forces personnel, and even former police officers who have served themselves in conflict zones,' Hinchco says.

The gripes stem from more recent changes to the interpretation of the War Pensions Act, Hinchco claims, where Vietnam veterans are the only veterans currently receiving any support for tobacco related diseases of disablements. Previously, all services were afforded support.

Likewise, Vietnam veterans are the only veterans who could possibly claim for diabetes as a services attributable disablement, apparently due to possible exposure to Agent Orange. This though, only applies to those troops who were in certain locations, on given dates.

'Sufferers of asbestosis and exposure to chemicals and coatings are being neglected, with it being necessary, in order for a navy cancer victim, or suffering from asbestos exposure, is required to produce a doctors certificate, nominating a 'terminal' date. Effectively, a date of his death. Most General practitioners are understandably reluctant to do such a thing. As a direct consequence, we have a growing number of sufferers awaiting death without support in many cases, and with minimal support in some.' Hinchco says.

'I believe there is corruption within the area of veterans affairs in this country, irrespective of these travesties being led by government or not.
All attempts to raise our concerns with the Minister responsible, Judith Collins, have fallen on deaf ears, and the many attempts to solicit any support from Prime Minister John Key have met exactly the same fate,' Hinchco claims, '..and now, we have had enough.'

'The Prime Minister is well aware that we are taking our protestations before the world's media, and yet, refuses any correspondence with us. This letter is the first of our monthly updates as Rugby World Cup draws ever nearer.'

ENDS

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