Canberra, Australia (AP) — Australians and New Zealanders paid tribute to their death on Sunday as they were preparing to withdraw from the longest war in Afghanistan.
Neighboring countries commemorate Anzac Day, the day the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed in Turkey on April 25 each year in an unfortunate campaign that provided the first battle of World War I soldiers.
New Zealand plans to withdraw its last military from Afghanistan in May and Australia in September, in line with US plans to end the 20-year campaign.
Australia’s Defense Minister Peter Dutton said the withdrawal allowed Australia to focus on its territories where China was changing its security environment.
“Our current focus is … to be in our own area and to provide support to our neighbors near us,” Dutton told Nine Network Television, referring to natural disaster and pandemic relief. Told.
“We need to be aware that our region is changing. China is militarizing ports throughout our region. We need to deal with all of them, and that’s it. That’s what we’re focusing on right now, “added Dutton.
Thousands of people gathered in downtown Brisbane for an unlimited number of dawn worship services after a pandemic from last year’s Australian Anniversary banned the general public. There was little evidence of social distance, and few people wore masks.
The commemorative event in Perth has been canceled due to a three-day blockade that began on Saturday due to a recent coronavirus infection. Western Australia’s Prime Minister Mark Magawan and thousands of other people, like last year, remembered the fall of the dawn ritual on the driveway.
Last year, Australia’s second-largest city and the worst hotspot in the pandemic, veterans complained that more than 75,000 spectators could take part in the Australian Rules football match in Melbourne. Later, we raised the Anzac Day march limit from 5,500 to 8,000. same day.
Given Australia’s relative success in preventing COVID-19 from spreading to the community, veterans complain that pandemic restrictions are excessive in some parts of the country. Services and marches were livestreamed for those who could not attend or who did not want to risk the infection of their participation.
Sydney, Australia’s largest city, has limited the march to 10,000 people. The Maori choir sang at the dawn service in Sydney to show the essential connection that Anzac Day brings to the two countries.
Soldiers played didgeridoo for the first time at the dawn worship at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, acknowledging the sacrifice of indigenous Australians during the war.
This service has attracted up to 40,000 people in the last few years. This year was a ticket event limited to 4,200 people.
At Canberra’s service, Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed that Australian troops would leave Afghanistan shortly after losing 41 Australian troops in Afghanistan.
“It was our longest war. The world is safer from the threat of terrorism than when the Twin Towers collapsed almost 20 years ago, but we remain vigilant. It cost a lot, “says Morrison.