PRESS RELEASE
10 September 2011

"The recent death of one New Zealand special forces soldier in
Afghanistan should be the last. New Zealand or any other country must
not be dragged into supporting the US-led war of terror which is now
the biggest act of terrorism in the world that has resulted to
indiscriminate killing of civilians."

This was the message of Auckland Philippines Solidarity (APS) in its
statement echoing calls for justice for victims of US-led wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan in the aftermath of the 9-11 attacks in the US that
were used to justify invasion of these nations.

Full text of statement follows.

New Zealand: Stand for Peace and Sovereignty, END Support for US Wars
Statement of Auckland Philippines Solidarity on 10th Year of 9-11 Attacks
11 September 2011

Today, we remember the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks in
the United States. We join their families in demanding that the
perpetrators be brought to justice. We also call for justice for the
victims of US state terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan, Philippines and
other countries around the world.

With the coming November 2011 elections, we challenge the parties to
go public in declaring their stand in regard New Zealand’s involvement
in the US wars. We urge voters to support those who strongly advocate
for New Zealand to promote peace and respect nations’ sovereignty
versus the bloody wars of aggression for control of other nations’ oil
and resources.

When the US declared its 'war on terror' in the aftermath of the 9-11
attacks, countries around the world were unnecessarily dragged into
this borderless war. Troops from New Zealand, Australia, Philippines
and others were deployed to fight side by side with US troops who led
invasions that have killed, maimed and terrorised hundreds of
thousands of innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The recent death of one New Zealand special forces soldier in
Afghanistan should be the last. New Zealand or any other country must
not be dragged into supporting the US-led war of terror which is now
the biggest act of terrorism in the world that has resulted to
indiscriminate killing of civilians. In his recently released book
Other People’s Wars: New Zealand in Afghanistan, Iraq and the War on
Terror, the well known New Zealand journalist, Nicky Hager, exposes
that our country’s armed forces have had a much greater role in the
war on terror than New Zealand political leaders have admitted.

After 9-11, we have also witnessed how attacks on civil liberties
intensified in the face of arbitrary terrorist listings and
anti-terror laws that brought waves of unlawful arrests and raids in
communities. On 15th October 2007, more than 300 New Zealand police
carried out raids on the baseless claim that local activists from the
anti-war, environmental and Maori sovereignty movements were planning
terrorist attacks. The police unsuccessfully attempted to charge the
activists under the Terrorism Suppression Act (TSA). Four (4) people
arrested in that police operation still face spurious charges of
participating in an organised criminal gang and unlawful possession of
firearms under the Arms Act.

In October last year the National Party led government of John Key
designated the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s
Army as terrorist groups under the TSA - a move that effectively bars
New Zealand from playing any meaningful role in supporting the peace
talks between the Philippines government and the National Democratic
Front.

In the face of massive civilian deaths and human rights abuses in Iraq
and Afghanistan, the actions of three Christian activists to deflate
one of the Waihopai Spybase domes represented the people’s rejection
of New Zealand participating in the bloody wars of the US. The
“damage” they have done on the Waihopai base is nothing compared to
the crimes against humanity committed by the US and its allies in
their greed for oil and other resources.

Declared by the US as its “second front” of the war on terror, the
Philippines has been battered with more human rights abuses and
increasing US military presence. To date, almost 20 years since the
historic vote of the Philippine Senate on 16th September 1991 to
dismantle the US bases, the puppet government has allowed the
continuing deployment of US troops in Philippine soil.

In Korea, the Jeju naval base construction currently endangers the
Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia. While destroying the lives of
Gangjeong residents and the natural environment, it is bound to be
used by the US versus China, as the US obtained the right to station
there based on the ROK-US Mutual Defense Agreement.

The Waihopai Spybase, as in the US troops and bases in the
Philippines, Korea and around the world, do not serve the interests of
ordinary people who simply wish to have their rights to land,
livelihood and dignity respected and protected.

In the spirit of international solidarity, we call for:

• Justice for the victims of 9-11 and justice for the victims of
US-led state terror.

• End to any New Zealand support for US wars of aggression.

• The repeal of the Terrorism Suppression Act and other laws that
criminalise legitimate political dissent.

• The closure of the Waihopai spybase near Blenheim, in the South
Island of New Zealand.

• The total ban of all US bases and troops on foreign soil.

* Auckland Philippines Solidarity (APS) is a member of the
International League of People’s Struggles. APS is endorsing the ILPS
call for March 20, 2012 Global day of Action marking the 9th
anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq and the protest vs G8 and NATO
Summits to be held in Chicago, US in May 2012.

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