Neuseeland: Studenten wehren sich gegen Forderungen die Wehrpflicht wieder einzuführen

In Neuseeland hat man sich schon 1972 entschlossen die Wehrpflicht endgültig der Vergangenheit angehören zu lassen. Doch es gab immer wieder Stimmen, die eine Wiedereinführung der Wehrpflicht gefordert hatten. Das stärkste Argument dabei war die hohe Kriminalitätsrate junger Neuseeländer.
Anlass genug für Studenten der Victoria Universität gegen derartige Forderungen Stellung zu beziehen:

Today students at Victoria University are opposing what they say is a ‘daft’ call to re-impose compulsory military training on New Zealand’s young people.

President of Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) Rory McCourt said he agreed youth crime was an issue for many elderly kiwis, but that depriving all young people of their freedom, and training them to shoot and kill was a recipe for “misery and disaster”.

“New Zealand’s young people in the twenty-first century don’t need conscription and guns, they need skills and jobs. If we want to compete in this changing global world we’ve got to invest in our young people from day one”

“Self worth shouldn’t have to come from firing a gun, it comes from whatever ignites the passion and confidence of that young person” said McCourt.

McCourt said increasing the number of trade apprenticeships and reversing cuts to university and student funding would keep youth in class and off the streets.