DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 132/10
Saturday, 24 April 2010
Anzac Day in Gizab
Australian Special Forces soldiers will conduct a special Anzac Day service in the
town of Gizab, in Orzgan province, after concluding a battle several days ago to
rescue a town from the Taliban.
The Commanding Officer of the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG), who cannot
be named for security reasons, will address the special force soldiers currently in
Gizab at a dawn service.
Lieutenant Colonel P said it would be a proud moment for Australian soldiers to
conduct an Anzac Day service on the battlefield just as their forefathers did 95 years
ago.
“To be standing on ground recently taken from the enemy by Australian soldiers
supporting local Afghans, who have risen against the Taliban, is a great privilege.
“What has happened during the battle for Gizab over the past few days is a clear
example that there are good people who refuse to be intimidated by the Taliban and
have taken action to stand up for their rights and freedoms.
“It is also an example for other Afghan communities to follow and demonstrates that
with the support of the Government of Afghanistan, we can succeed in making this
country a better place.
“I will be telling the soldiers in Gizab that the Anzac spirit is about courage, boldness
and perseverance, bound together by the ties of mateship. The SOTG has
demonstrated these values through their actions under fire at Gizab,” Lieutenant
Colonel P said.
On Wednesday, Australia’s SOTG responded to a call for help from community
leaders in the remote Oruzgan town of Gizab, after locals staged an uprising against
Taliban using the area as a safe haven.
On Friday, the SOTG and their partnered Afghan colleagues arranged and coordinated
a shura (consultation), flying in representatives of the Government of the Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan, including Oruzgan’s Governor, Khoday Rahim to meet with
the community leaders of Gizab.
As this operation is still underway, no more specific details of the operation will be
released at this stage.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
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