C’wealth ‘neglecting war veterans’
NZPA London Many Commonwealth nations are neglecting their war veterans, according to an international ex-service-men's organisation.
The British Commonwealth Ex-service League will soon publish a Veterans' Charter, which it is circulating to “all appropriate governments” and to the Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral, Sir Shridath Ramphal.
The charter, over the signature of the league president. Prince Philip, amounts to an appeal to governments to attend to their responsibilities to men who fought for thier country and who now are in deprived circumstances. It is aimed not so much at senior nations, such as Aus-
tralia. New Zealand, Britain, and Canada, but at the smaller, developing countries. the league assistant secretary. Major Patrick Hartwngth. said. “We are thinking of the poor old chap living in a shack in the back of the bush with nobody to help him,” he said.
"Many of these people are without’the necessities of life and are treated badly by thejr governments, which just don't want to know.’
Details of the charter will be released at a news conference at the headquarters of the Royal British Legion. The Charter is undderstood to include a list of veterans rights, including grants in aid; "sheltered housing" for the disabled; and adequate pensions for those injured in
wars, or who suffer ill-health through serving in tropical or ether inhospitable climates.
The latter could refer to Australian and New Zealand Vitenam veterans who assert that their health and that of their children has been impaired by having breathed the defoliant. Agent Orange. The league dealt every year with scores of overseas veterans’ problems and last year dispensed aid worth about SNZIB4.OOO, Major Hartwright said. If a case was reported, say, from Sri Lanka, the league would ask that nation's ex-servicemen's organisation to investigate and recommend on any action to be taken.
The larger countries, such as Australia, looked after thier own. he said.
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Press, 21 January 1982, Page 8
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313C’wealth ‘neglecting war veterans’ Press, 21 January 1982, Page 8
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