NEW ZEALAND THANKS ITS VIETNAM VETS, AND ALSO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000183 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/ANP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV NZ SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND THANKS ITS VIETNAM VETS, AND ALSO APOLOGIZES ¶1. (U) Summary. The New Zealand government sponsored a series of events called "Tribute 08" over the May 31-June 2 three-day weekend to honor and thank NZ veterans who served and died in the Vietnam War, and to apologize to survivors and their families for not recognizing their service until now. The GNZ also acknowledged those who were exposed to Agent Orange, and regretted earlier government decisions that minimized the impact of chemical defoliants on Vietnam-era servicemembers. The tribute included a veterans' honor parade through downtown Wellington, a memorial service, a concert, exhibitions, and an official ceremony with comments by PM Helen Clark, Defense Minister Phil Goff, opposition leader John Key, and the Ambassador. The tribute and the government's actions were covered extensively by the NZ media. Some viewed the tribute as political opportunism by Clark and her struggling Labour Party and a small group of veterans considered it too little, too late; it was nevertheless largely well-received by veterans and non-veterans alike. End Summary. New Zealand Apologizes to Vietnam Vets -------------- ¶2. (U) The rumble could be heard long before the source could be seen. A formation of six, olive-drab Vietnam-era "Huey" helicopters roared low and slow over Wellington on a peaceful Sunday afternoon, introducing many residents to the sound of a war they've only read about, and igniting memories for others who experienced it. This scene was one of many organized by the NZ government to honor, thank, and apologize to the 3,400 NZ veterans who served between June 1964 and December 1972 in the Vietnam War, and to give them the heroes' welcome that they never received. (Note: Although the New Zealand governments in those years agreed to contribute forces, all New Zealand service members who went to Vietnam were volunteers. As a result, New Zealand anti-war protesters were particularly harsh towards returnees and family members because they had volunteered to participate in an unpopular war. End Note.) ¶3. (U) The Tribute 08 events included a May 31 morning parade of Vietnam veterans and their families through Wellington's city center, complete with military marching bands, and ended in a ceremony in the plaza fronting Parliament. Notable were the applause from onlookers lining the streets; the large framed photos carried by family members honoring the 37 Kiwis who died in Vietnam; and the American flags carried by one contingent comprised of US Vietnam veterans living in NZ. In front of Parliament, a group of 30 Maori in traditional dress chanted and danced a Maori "Haka" to welcome and bless the assemblage, numbering approximately 2,500. The ceremony included speeches by PM Helen Clark, Minister of Defense Phil Goff, opposition leader John Key, and others. Notably, Clark and Goff were prominent anti-Vietnam War activists in their youth and cut their political teeth in opposition to the war. Clark expressed gratitude for the veterans' sacrifices and offered an apology for past governments' denial of their exposure to, and their suffering from the effects of, Agent Orange. This official recognition of exposure to and injuries from Agent Orange came after a five-year fact-finding process conducted by Parliament and the government. Clark also paid tribute to the 37 NZ veterans who died in the war and to the 187 who were injured. ¶4. (U) Tribute events through the weekend also included a memorial vigil within Parliament, a memorial service at the National War Memorial, a commemoration celebration and reunion, a tribute concert, and Vietnam War exhibitions. Ambassador McCormick and DAO Captain Dawn Driesbach participated in most of the events, including a kickoff ceremony in the Wellington Civic Plaza where the Ambassador read a statement from Senator John McCain saluting the veterans and referring to the "sacred bond" shared by those who fought in Vietnam. All events were covered extensively by NZ print and television media. ¶5. (U) In interviews, one veteran stated that the government's apology was "long overdue" and good to hear; another complained that the tribute was "a little too late"; and a veteran's widow commented: "It is about time the WELLINGTON 00000183 002 OF 002 government recognized what they did. They fought a war, went to save the country, they deserve it. They were never welcomed home or acknowledged, it was like a war that never was." Some veterans complained that the New Zealand Returned and Services Association chapters (RSA, the equivalent of the Veterans Association chapters in the U.S.) treated Vietnam vets poorly, even blocking their membership in some chapters. The returned Vietnam veterans formed their own association, the Ex-Vietnam Services Association (EVSA),which reunited in December 2006 with the RSA under a Memorandum of Understanding. The MOU was a catalyst that led to the government's apology, the Tribute 08 festivities, and a financial package to compensate veterans and their families for their long-term health issues due to Agent Orange and other chemical defoliants. Apology to Vietnam -------------- ¶6. (U) Some anti-war activists had urged the government to expand its apology to the people of Vietnam. However, Clark did not go in that direction. One Cambodian immigrant to New Zealand who now runs an NGO commented that an apology to Vietnam could invite claims for compensation from the Vietnamese government for millions of Vietnamese. Journalists who were able to find ethnic Vietnamese for reaction to the idea of a GNZ apology to the Vietnam invariably received a negative reaction, as the Vietnamese questioned had fled the communist regime that took power in ¶1975. Comment: On Balance Well-received -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Comment. For many NZ veterans and non-veterans, the events of Tribute 08 and the government's actions were positively and tearfully welcomed, but not without recognizing a little irony and possible opportunism. Some believe the government's apology was geared towards bolstering the Labour Party's flagging poll numbers. These same observers note that the Clark-initiated government apologies in 2002 to Samoa for colonial mistreatment and to Chinese immigrants exploited by New Zealanders in the 19th Century were election related. While the 2002 apology was likely politically motivated, the Tribute 08 apology and activities date back to 2006 and planning began in earnest in August 2007, well before Labour's current political woes. Helen Clark has prided herself on her government's support for its country's soldiers and recognition of New Zealand's military contributions internationally. The apology to New Zealand Vietnam veterans is a belated GNZ attempt to heal old wounds that painfully divided New Zealand in the Vietnam War era; financial complaints by its Vietnam veterans remain a controversial subject and may never be fully resolved. End Comment. MCCORMICK