Post by corsair67 on Aug 16, 2006 18:56:19 GMT 12
If this jerk is so dismayed with NZ, why doesn't he just bugger off back to Canada!
I'm cranky with the Media too: for giving tossers like Sooden a voice!
Harmeet Sooden criticises NZ govt
16 August 2006
New Zealand student and former Iraqi hostage Harmeet Sooden has criticised the New Zealand Government, military and media over their dealings with Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mr Sooden, 33, spent four months in captivity in Iraq, where he was working with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), before being freed on March 23 this year.
Two other hostages of the Swords of Justice Brigade were also rescued by United States, British and Canadian troops but the fourth, American Tom Fox, was earlier found dead.
Mr Sooden, a Canadian citizen, is back studying at Auckland University and told students' association magazine Craccum the New Zealand army in Iraq was not there to help the locals.
"In 2003, the New Zealand Government deployed 'engineers' – a euphemism for army engineers – to Iraq under the direct control of British occupying forces," he told the magazine.
"The New Zealand troops are mainly there to construct military facilities and repair military equipment – much like the British imperialists who commissioned the building of railways in British India (having destroyed indigenous industries), not for the local populace but to transport goods and troops for the benefit of the British economy. Have your say
"Under the guise of helping Iraqis, New Zealand lent political support and an air of legitimacy to the crimes of the Anglo-American occupation."
Mr Sooden said the reasons for New Zealand's military involvement in Afghanistan were similar, and criticised the presence there of Special Air Services.
"The New Zealand Government has therefore, again, demonstrated its contempt for international law and human rights in general."
He said New Zealand media were largely taking their portrayal of the Iraq situation from international media.
"There are a few central themes. One is racism. The other is Islamophobia."
Mr Sooden said New Zealand media had also "falsely and knowingly" asserted that he claimed a ransom had been paid for his release in Iraq.
He had only said he believed a "negotiated settlement" was reached.
"Such irresponsible journalism, making a big deal of the issue of ransoms, could have increased the risk of kidnapping for other aid workers."
Mr Sooden said he was not a CPT member and had only joined a short-term delegation to Iraq when he was captured.
He was also critical of his former New Zealand employers, Oscmar, which makes high-tech defence equipment, and said the Government here supported companies such as Oscmar and weapons research.
I'm cranky with the Media too: for giving tossers like Sooden a voice!
Harmeet Sooden criticises NZ govt
16 August 2006
New Zealand student and former Iraqi hostage Harmeet Sooden has criticised the New Zealand Government, military and media over their dealings with Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mr Sooden, 33, spent four months in captivity in Iraq, where he was working with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), before being freed on March 23 this year.
Two other hostages of the Swords of Justice Brigade were also rescued by United States, British and Canadian troops but the fourth, American Tom Fox, was earlier found dead.
Mr Sooden, a Canadian citizen, is back studying at Auckland University and told students' association magazine Craccum the New Zealand army in Iraq was not there to help the locals.
"In 2003, the New Zealand Government deployed 'engineers' – a euphemism for army engineers – to Iraq under the direct control of British occupying forces," he told the magazine.
"The New Zealand troops are mainly there to construct military facilities and repair military equipment – much like the British imperialists who commissioned the building of railways in British India (having destroyed indigenous industries), not for the local populace but to transport goods and troops for the benefit of the British economy. Have your say
"Under the guise of helping Iraqis, New Zealand lent political support and an air of legitimacy to the crimes of the Anglo-American occupation."
Mr Sooden said the reasons for New Zealand's military involvement in Afghanistan were similar, and criticised the presence there of Special Air Services.
"The New Zealand Government has therefore, again, demonstrated its contempt for international law and human rights in general."
He said New Zealand media were largely taking their portrayal of the Iraq situation from international media.
"There are a few central themes. One is racism. The other is Islamophobia."
Mr Sooden said New Zealand media had also "falsely and knowingly" asserted that he claimed a ransom had been paid for his release in Iraq.
He had only said he believed a "negotiated settlement" was reached.
"Such irresponsible journalism, making a big deal of the issue of ransoms, could have increased the risk of kidnapping for other aid workers."
Mr Sooden said he was not a CPT member and had only joined a short-term delegation to Iraq when he was captured.
He was also critical of his former New Zealand employers, Oscmar, which makes high-tech defence equipment, and said the Government here supported companies such as Oscmar and weapons research.
