News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: Vandals Desecrate POW Memorial

Date: July 12, 2001

"NZ vandals desecrate POW memorial

Vandals tore up dozens of cherry trees in a "peace garden" commemorating 48 Japanese prisoners of war shot dead by guards during a riot in 1943, police said.

World War II veterans in Featherston, a small town 95 kilometres north of the capital, Wellington, have campaigned for years to prevent the garden being established, but they condemned Wednesday night's attack.

Featherston Returned Services Association (Veterans) president John Welford said vandalism under any circumstances was "childish and foolish."

Even though some members were not in favour of the garden, because they were "opposed to anything Japanese," they would not support vandalism, he said.

A locally based Japanese timber company wants the garden to commemorate the 48 Japanese prisoners of war killed by their New Zealand guards who feared a breakout by the prisoners during a protest. A further 61 were wounded in what an official inquiry later found was a riot by the prisoners.

Local veterans have refused to allow any kind of memorial to the POWs to be placed in the garden."