Peace school on troops' agenda

By AUDREY YOUNG

The greening of New Zealand's defence force took another step yesterday, with a promise to explore the setting up of a peacekeeping school.

The idea of peace lessons was inspired by the consensus-building Green Party, already jubilant that the Skyhawks are to be jettisoned.

Now they have persuaded Defence Minister Mark Burton to order a feasibility study into a peacekeeping school that would complement fighting skills with such talents as diplomacy, language and cultural skills.

Defence spokesman Keith Locke - sometimes dubbed the Unarmed Forces spokesman - is not arguing that soldiers should make love not war, or that they should speak nicely to the enemy.

Not in rough spots like West Timor, anyway.

But Mr Locke's vision is of peace groups and aid groups sharing a classroom and swapping tales with corporals and captains.

"They could assist each other with their experience," said Mr Locke.

He said New Zealand peacekeepers needed not only combat training but "a range of diplomatic, language and cultural skills to dampen conflict and assist in reconciliation and community building."

The study will be paid for from existing defence expenditure - something else will be sacrificed in the name of peace.

Former Defence Force head Sir Somerford Teagle, who was one of seven high-ranking defence officials to lambast Labour's defence plans, said New Zealand forces already were well trained in such areas as diplomacy, language and cultural skills.

"They are well trained in most of those sorts of things. I don't have any comment to make on the scheme - I'm a bit taken aback.

"I would think it is understanding all of that which has made our people conspicuously successful.

"Getting along with the local people is something that our people are extremely good at."

New Zealand Defence Force spokesman Warren Inkster said there were about 800 New Zealand personnel on peacekeeping duties around the world.

The number fluctuated, but 600 soldiers were stationed in East Timor, with the rest posted in various locations, from the Sinai to Bougainville.