Media Release: War maker John Howard on the way to Wellington?
From: Peace Action Wellington
Date: 12 February 2007

Peace Action Wellington has received information that Australian Prime Minister John Howard will be visiting Wellington at the end of this week, February 15-17. If this information is true, it will mark his first visit since March 2003 just days before he helped George W Bush invade Iraq, sending Australian Special Forces troops and Navy frigates.

‘No doubt the Labour Government would be keen to keep Howard’s visit far from the public. We can only speculate as to the possible agenda of talks between Howard and Clark but it is sure not to include any criticism of Australian foreign policy’ said Peace Action Wellington member Valerie Morse

‘As the Australian government positions itself ever closer to the US, it pulls New Zealand with it. Indeed, the New Zealand government has been hand-in-hand with the Australian Liberal Party on its troop deployments to Afghanistan, the Solomon Islands and Tonga. Lest we forgot, New Zealand also sent NZDF troops to Iraq in 2003 to assist the occupation.’

‘It is hardly suprising that Clark would welcome Howard with open arms. While Labour would have us believe that they a very different hue than the Australian Liberal Party, they are in fact pursuing almost identical agendas in fighting the so-called War on Terrorism. The agenda includes attacks on civil liberties, refugees, asylum seekers and workers as well as the suppression of political dissent. It also includes the pursuit of a neo-liberal economic agenda intended to further enrich the wealthy and privatise public goods.’

‘In 2003, more than 1000 people disrupted John Howard’s official luncheon at Parliament by using noisemakers outside of the Beehive. He can rest assured that he is no more welcome here now than he was then.’

As a response to international calls for action to mark the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and the continued occupation of Afghanistan, Peace Action Wellington will be hosting a public meeting and action planning session on Tuesday, 13 February at 6:30pm at the Wellington Public Library, Mezzanine meeting room.

ENDS

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