Posted on 03/03/2003 10:54:26 AM PST by smpc
OPPOSITION is mounting in New Zealand to next weekend's visit by John Howard, whose stand on war with Iraq and recent comments about joining the US missile defence system are seen by many as endangering the region.
Anti-war protesters are planning demonstrations outside Mr Howard's public engagements in Auckland and Wellington over the weekend, and even Prime Minister Helen Clark, who is usually careful to avoid criticising Australian policy, said joining the missile defence program would encourage the use of nuclear weapons.
"Our emphasis has always been on achieving comprehensive disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons," Miss Clark said.
"There's always been concern about missile shields, talked of from the time of Ronald Reagan, which could encourage proliferation, not discourage it."
New Zealand does not allow any nuclear testing or visits to its ports by warships carrying nuclear warheads.
The small but vocal Greens party has been outspoken in its opposition to Mr Howard's position on Iraq and missile defence and has demanded his invitation be revoked.
"Our Government should be sending the strongest possible message to this warmonger," Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said. "Howard's actions have stripped him of any right to the courtesy normally owed to a visiting dignitary."
The protests are expected to culminate with a demonstration outside the Beehive parliament in Wellington next Monday, when Mr Howard addresses a state luncheon.
Speaking to the Nine Network yesterday, Mr Howard continued to promote the contentious decision to consider a missile shield, rejecting Labor claims the plan was impractical and that he was scaremongering for political purposes.
"North Korea is a huge problem . . . but I don't at the moment see North Korea as about to launch a missile attack on Australia," Mr Howard said. "We are in a different world and North Korea is behaving in a very reckless fashion, and all I'm saying to the Australian people is let us examine all the options."
Opposition Leader Simon Crean said the floating of plans for a defensive system on Australian soil sent mixed messages to the region.
"What he (Mr Howard) has done is to again raise the fear of an attack from North Korea, at the same time as his Foreign Minister is up there telling North Korea, 'Don't be frightened of an attack from the US'," Mr Crean said.
"It's the Prime Minister wanting to raise fear in the domestic economy."
Mr Howard has said non-nuclear missiles and laser weapons could be deployed on Australian soil if the Government enlisted in a US-backed missile defence scheme. "We have a prime minister who has moved from Darth Vader to Dr Evil," Mr Crean said.
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