Letter to Helen Clark

10 October 2001

The Rt Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister, Parliament Buildings, WELLINGTON.

Dear Prime Minister

I am writing on behalf of our organization to once again express our concern about New Zealand's involvement in the attacks being carried out against the Taleban regime in Afghanistan.

We believe that this country should be supporting a response that is based on the rule of law and that if we must be involved it should be through the legitimate avenues of the United Nations and the International Court of Justice. The response to the terrorist attack which is now taking place is likely to lead to even more conflict and more innocent people suffering and will in the end be even more difficult to resolve.

We could be making a more constructive contribution by encouraging the processes of international law to deal with the perpetrators of terrorism. Dealing with them by the use of more terror is increasing the danger for even more of the world's people. Being aligned with the United States and Britain makes it more likely that this country is vulnerable to attack. This is putting the interests and security of our country at greater risk, not making us safer. There are only a very few countries which have offered military support. Why should New Zealand be one of them?

We believe that it would be more helpful if countries like New Zealand which have a record of peacekeeping and peacemaking could encourage more analysis of the causes of the present horrifying situation and encourage the world leaders to deal with these causes.

We urge you to give consideration to the issues we have raised and to take a lead in proposing alternative and safer ways of dealing with the frightening situation which is facing the whole world.

Yours sincerely,

Joan Macdonald.
President,
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (Aotearoa).

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