A soldier’s plea

Sir,

Recently, I married a Fijian ex-sol dier. I find my husband has been a deeply troubled man ever since he served in the first tour of duty in southern Lebanon in 1978. In vain, I appealed to many people in positions of authority to assist my husband recover from what I believe to be a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Instead trauma has been added to trauma.

I came to the point where I could do no more and I simply surrendered my trust to the Lord to lead my loving husband to recovery.

He has now taken responsibility to ask for help from those who are leading him in the first steps towards recovery. But there is a long way to go.

All I can do now is pray and wait patiently and faithfully for him while I care for myself and my children.

To all of those in positions of authori ty with a duty of care to those soldiers who returned deeply troubled from what they have experienced on peacekeeping

duty, I plead to you in the name of the Lord through the words of Job (30: 24- 27): Surely no one lays hands on a broken man When he cries for help in his distress.

Have I not wept for those in trouble Has not my soul grieved for the poor?

Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; When I looked for light, then came darkness.

The churning inside me never stops, days of suffering confront me.

Evelyn Lawe Tulega

Canberra Australia