Anzac Day In Gizab

< BACK TO DEFENCE starstarstarstarstar   Government - Defence Press Release
24th April 2010, 10:43pm - Views: 887





Government Defence Defence Public Affairs 1 image

Government Defence Defence Public Affairs 2 image


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






news articles logo NEWS ARTICLES
Contact News Articles |Remove this article