To all of our members, supporters, and many friends and comrades in Aotearoa.
As you may know, at some time around 12:30pm yesterday it was reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran has responded to escalating US aggression by targeting several US Military sites within Iraq. For many, this signals a potential beginning to a new and terrible epoch of conventional warfare between world and regional powers.
As an organisation for socialism and international solidarity between all working people of the world, we stand firmly against this new threat to the lives of millions of people, especially those who have already suffered so much at the hands of outside aggressors in the Middle East. We pledge firmly to never support such a war, and that we will be seeking an alliance with all of those in Aotearoa who would see us pull out of all military and security treaties with the United States, and any other potential party in the coming war.
With New Zealand as a signatory in several treaties and alliances, such as ANZUS and the Five Eyes Agreement, as well as a past and current participant in several US occupation forces, we are concerned that the New Zealand Government will be drawn into conflict with those whom we should instead join hands in international solidarity, the working people of Iran. Theirs is a beautiful country with a history that stretches back thousands of years, and we will not stand to see New Zealand troops acting as invaders, murderers, or accessories in crimes of war upon their soil.
In addition to an end to direct military cooperation between the US and the New Zealand Government, we demand an end to all forms of indirect support, such as fleet basing rights, arms sales, security contracting, and intelligence sharing. Furthermore we demand an end to militarism in all its forms.
For our part, we as an organisation offer our wholehearted support to any domestic efforts against this war which instead focus on the solidarity between peoples and the need for disarmament and anti-imperialism at home. We desperately need an alliance against war and imperialism, and commit ourselves fully to peace and liberation.
The coming months may offer great challenges, and we send our unreserved love to those who are willing to fight against war.
In a spirit of peace, solidarity and hope,
Organise Aotearoa
(Header image depicts the inside of Nasir ol Molk Mosque, Shiraz City, Iran. One of the cultural sites threatened by President Trump on Twitter. Photograph by Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji. Released under Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.)
