GOV. DEPTS
RSL plan outrages Vietnam veterans
A PROPOSAL by the RSL to foster rapprochement between Australian and Vietnamese veterans of the Vietnam War has caused outrage, prompting the national president, Rear-Admiral Ken Doolan, to apologise for the way it has been handled. Continue Reading
Minister thanks veterans’ health Advisory Group
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Judith Collins has thanked a Ministerial Advisory Group on Veterans’ Health set up two years ago to advise the Government on veterans’ health issues. Continue Reading
Judith Collins Letter 16th May 2009.
From the Desk of the VVAG Secretary 16th May 2009 I have received no reply from Judith Collins in response to the submissions I sent to all the MP’s. I did receive a supportive letter from the Honourable Tariana Turia which… Continue Reading
National promises more for war vets
War veterans will be given greater recognition and assistance under a National-led Government, the party said yesterday. Continue Reading
Lieutenant General J. Mateparae, ONZM Chief of Defence Force
Our defence involvement in the Vietnam War spanned eight years. This was the longest commitment of our combat forces to a single conflict in New Zealand’s military history. Our involvement in the War has had an impact on our nation, those who served there, and their families, that continues to this day. The controversy connected with the Vietnam war was corrosive; it was damning; and for many of the men and women of the New Zealand Defence Force who served there it became noxious. Continue Reading
Video: When Sorry is not Enough!
Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word and PM Helen Clark just can’t say sorry Continue Reading
Now say sorry to Vietnam say anti-war protesters
“What’s been so painful for those soldiers is that they did their duty for the country and they’ve really been treated extremely badly by successive Governments in terms of the sickness that they picked up while serving there,” Mr Shadbolt said the Vietnamese people also had deformed children and an apology should be made to them also. Continue Reading
Apology is 35 years too late: Vietnamese vet
Mr Nguyen, a captain in the former South Vietnam air force who later spent seven years in a jungle concentration camp, said the apology to veterans was too late. “You should have honoured them when they came back, but until now 35 years later they did it too late,” he said. Continue Reading
Leader of the Progressive Party ‘Jim Anderton’ Apology to Vietnam Veterans
May I say that as one gets older it is increasingly possible to see and participate in examples where history offers the prospect of learning lessons in the hope that things might be done better in the future. Today is one such example. The purpose of this very public statement in the House is to increase the chances of learning—as a country, as a Government, as armed forces, and as families. Continue Reading