Parties unite to support forces

WELLINGTON - "Godspeed and a safe return," was Parliament's message to New Zealand peacekeepers as MPs sombrely debated the imminent deployment of servicemen and women on one of their most dangerous missions since the Vietnam War - restoring peace and order to strife-torn East Timor.

All political parties in a special four-hour Parliamentary debate yesterday supported the Government's decision to send up to 1000 military personnel to East Timor over the coming days and weeks, as part of an 8000-strong international peacekeeping force.

"Now in our region, just a few hours' flight to the north of us, we have our own Kosovo," Prime Minister Jenny Shipley told MPs as she warned there could be casualties.

"As the fires of Dili are extinguished, there is still a flickering flame that we must keep alive, and that is the flame of independence in East Timor. This cause is right," she said.

"New Zealanders cannot stand by and do nothing."

Mrs Shipley said people's thoughts and prayers had to go out to the peacekeepers' defence of freedom in East Timor.

"They will have a strong sense of duty and purpose on their mind. They hold the admiration of all New Zealanders in so far as they never question when they are called off," she said.

"I wish them Godspeed as they travel to East Timor, as they will proudly represent the people of New Zealand, and we all await their safe return.

Labour leader Helen Clark said her party strongly supported New Zealand's commitment to the international force.

"Our first thoughts today are for the men and women who will be representing New Zealand in East Timor, and for their families.

"Everyone is well aware that our commitment of troops to East Timor involves real risk."

But New Zealand's responsibility was clear.

"It is to act to uphold the result of the ballot for independence in East Timor, and to enable that small country to establish its independence."

The task ahead for East Timor was "huge," she said.

"This new nation inherits the scorched earth left behind by the departing Indonesian occupiers. It is going to be tough."

Alliance leader Jim Anderton said Parliament was debating one of its "heaviest responsibilities."

"There is no question that in this particular cause, [troops] are literally risking their lives. Their sacrifice to their country and to the cause of democratic independence of a small nation state cannot be overstated."

Cost, he said, should not be a factor in our efforts to help rebuild East Timor.

"In providing aid, New Zealand is repaying some of the dues we owe East Timor since 1975," he said, referring to New Zealand's inaction at Indonesia's illegal annexation of the island territory.

New Zealand First MP Ron Mark, a retired serviceman, criticised groups who had called for the reduction, and even disbandment, of defence forces.

"[They are] the same people who have championed the cause of freedom and democracy and human rights ad nauseam.

"It is days like this when I ask them to quietly sit down and think, and ask themselves the question - how do you guarantee freedom, how do you guarantee democracy, how do you guarantee the maintenance of basic human rights if you don't have a credible defence force with which to enforce it?"

Defence Minister Max Bradford agreed that some criticism of the preparedness of the armed forces was justified.

"But everybody in this House has to bear part of that shame," he said.

"Hospitals and schools are more sexy than [armoured personnel carriers] frigates or F-16s. But they're as important when things really go wrong."

Act leader Richard Prebble said the party supported the deployment to East Timor.

"But we need to say to the public and to Parliament that our armed forces are going to need support not just for a few days or a few weeks, but possibly years."

United leader Peter Dunne said New Zealand could not stand by and let the carnage in East Timor continue.

"The initiatives that have been taken deserve the full support of this nation and of this House." - NZPA