The Vietnam Veterans Action New Zealand
vvanz.com Website is the Official Website of VVAG
It needs to be made clear that it is not intended that the actions of VVAG should disrupt what has been achieved and put into place so far. Rather to inform the respective parties of the issues that VVAG believe need to be addressed to resolve this sorry ongoing saga for the Vietnam Veterans and their families now and for the future.
The genetic damage issue and the latency factor means that legislation must be put in place to protect the current and future generations of Veterans and their families. The NZ Government needs for our Military to be in line with our allies to ensure our military is capable of operating in an efficient and consistent manner. This can only be achieved by recognising the implications and welfare of the service given by the Military.
Vietnam Veterans Action Group (VVAG)
VVAG was formed by a group of Vietnam Veterans who felt that the Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) that was signed off by the Government, NZRSA and the EVSA did not go far enough and less than 5% of Veterans would receive any monetary compensation for their war related injuries and health issues.
It is felt by many of the Veterans that they and their families have been left out and their concerns voiced in the AOJWG process last year were largely ignored.
The scope for monetary compensation was far to narrow. Too many Vietnam Veterans and their families have suffered both emotionally, physically and financially from their service to their Country.
The NZ Government have been very miserly in their attitude in their treatment of the Vietnam Veterans and their families’ health issues in comparison with our allies whom we fought along side in the Vietnam War.
The apparent failure of the NZ Government to declare the Vietnam theatre an “operational area” which our allies Australia whom we were under the command of, and America, both countries recognised that South Vietnam was an “operational area” and their soldiers did not pay tax as we did and yet we are treated under the out dated 1954 War Pensions Act.
The question asked is that if we were not in an “operational area” as declared by the NZ Government then all of us who are unable to work because of our (war) (occupational) health issues should put us all on ACC. But no! we come under the War Pensions Act so give us our tax back with the accrued interest or put us on ACC. VVAG realise that the NZ Government had the right to declare if we were in a war zone or not, they chose not so we all should be on ACC.
You can‘t have it both ways.
VVAG are concerned that the MoU was signed off by the Government, NZRSA and the EVSA without any consultation with their members and the Vietnam Veterans of what the package was. This was a breach of protocol and therefore there was no mandate to do so from the Vietnam Veterans.
This in breach of due process.
The NZ Government, NZRSA and the EVSA are parties to an agreement that is technically not legal or binding according to the protocol of these organisations.
It is VVAG’s intention to assist its members to gain the compensation/reparation package to be put forward to the New Zealand Government to deal with the inequities of MoU against the not addressed concerns written and voiced in the AOJWG hearings last year.
As yet negotiations have not addressed the concerns of the Vietnam Veterans properly and VVAG feel that litigation is the only way that justice can be obtained. |
