PRESS STATEMENT ON IRAQ FROM
THE AUCKLAND WOMENS CENTRE.

4 Warnock St, Grey Lynn, Auckland,

Tel:3763227 Fax: 3761817

November 20th , 2002.

The women of the Auckland Women's Centre do not want any part in a further attack upon Iraq.

At their Annual General Meeting, on November 8th, they passed the following resolution unanimously:


"The Auckland Women's Centre calls upon the New Zealand Government not to support or participate in any United States or United Nations led attack upon Iraq; and to stop economic sanctions against Iraq."

Collective member, Janet Bogle, said that the price paid by the innocent civilians of Iraq, particularly the women and children, was already too high.
"Over a million people have died because of the sanctions and the bombings " she said.
"A further military attack cannot be condoned by people of New Zealand."
She added that the United States has weapons of mass destruction, and has not ruled out the possibility of a first strike by nuclear weapons.
"Why aren't weapons inspectors being sent to the United States?" she asked.
"The Government told us it was not considering any attack upon Iraq. "But now it is sending a frigate into the region!"
"New Zealand has a nuclear-free policy to be proud of".
"We ask the Prime Minister to act courageously to prevent the escalation of this war, and the use of nuclear weapons, " she said.