Organise Aotearoa holds protest outside NZDF offices
Organise Aotearoa holds protest outside NZDF offices in Auckland against killing of children, sexual abuse, and coverups
Organise Aotearoa, a new socialist
organisation is holding a joint protest today with Auckland
Peace Action to condemn war crimes, including the killing of
children, perpetrated by the New Zealand Defence Force
(NZDF) in Afghanistan. The protest is today at 12:30pm
outside NZDF offices on Great North Road in
Auckland.
A North & South magazine article released
yesterday details the NZDF’s involvement in war crimes,
and reveals a culture of sexual abuse and homophobia.
“Nicky Hager’s story provides chilling details
about a toxic culture and disregard for human life in the
NZDF,” says Organise Aotearoa spokesperson Emilie
Rākete.
“We are concerned about the war crimes
committed by an NZDF medic in Afghanistan.” The medic,
according to Hager’s reporting, breached the Geneva
Conventions by engaging in a gunfight, killing two
children.
“Instead of court-martialing this Officer,
the NZDF awarded him a bravery medal for his war crimes. The
disregard for human life clearly extends all the way to the
top of the NZDF,” says Rākete.
“Hager’s report
also demonstrates a culture of sexual abuse and homophobia
in the NZDF. Toxic masculinity, male entitlement, and rape
culture are clearly rampant in the NZDF.”
Organise
Aotearoa is also concerned about the NZDF’s alleged
attempts to cover up sexual abuse and war crimes. “It
seems the NZDF would rather just make these issues go away
than properly investigate them,” says
Rākete.
“Without accountability, these issues will
continue the plague the NZDF.”
Organise Aotearoa is
encouraging the public to attend the picket to condemn this
culture of violence.
ENDS