NZ's Agent Orange role exposed

[cal04]

NEW Zealand supplied Agent Orange chemicals to the United States military during the Vietnam war, a government minister has revealed.The disclosure led to immediate claims that New Zealand was in breach of the Geneva convention and could face a flood of lawsuits from veterans and Vietnamese.

Transport Minister Harry Duynhoven said the chemicals were sent to a United States base in the Philippines during the 1960s. "The information that has been given to me is that products used to make Agent Orange were shipped from New Plymouth (New Zealand) to Subic Bay in the Philippines," he told the Sunday News newspaper.

After nearly three decades of official denials, a high-level parliamentary committee formally acknowledged late last year that New Zealand soldiers in the Vietnam War were significantly exposed to Agent Orange, but no mention was ever made that the country was a supplier. Some New Zealand veterans are seeking compensation for chronic illnesses suffered by them and their families.

Although the National Party was in power during the Vietnam War, Mr Duynhoven said his current Labour government was responsible for setting the record straight. "Any government has to deal with the situation it finds itself in and it's always a problem if previous governments leave a mess."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11893668%255E1702,00.html

[Wat_Tyler]

1. I'd heard rumours, but to see it in print - that's really fucking sick.

I'm glad Labour had the guts to acknowledge the truth, though.

[WillieWoohah]

2. Hey, if we didn't, someone else would have!

(just kidding)

[donsu]

3. what's sick & a crime is that we americans used it

nt

[leesa]

4. Well, WE used it. This is crap. This is a way to blame what we did on

NZ...pay-back time because they refuse to bend over for the Chimp and Howard's follies.

[AlbizuX]

5. damnit!

not the land of Frodo! Not the land of Frodo!

And I thought there was at least one last PURE place in the world....