John Zarb
Encyclopedia
John Zarb was an Australia
n Conscientious objector
to military service (Conscription
) during the Vietnam War
. Objecting to the principle of forced drafting for military purposes under the National Service Act (1964)
, Zarb refused to nominate for conscription. John is of Maltese
heritage.
On 14 October 1968, John Zarb, 21, was the first person to be found guilty of having failed to comply with his call up notice during the Vietnam War. Zarb was convicted in Melbourne
and sentenced to two years jail. He lost his appeal to the full High Court on 25 November 1968. He was released on compassionate grounds in August 1969 after serving 10 months and 7 days in Pentridge Prison
.
Zarb's gaoling created a great deal of public opposition to conscription. As a postman, Zarb received support from his trade union
, the Amalgamated Postal Workers Union (APWU). General Secretary George Slater, stated:
Thirty four Victorian union officials demanded Zarb's immediate release and protests against his gaoling were often in the newspaper headlines of the time.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
to military service (Conscription
Conscription in Australia
Conscription in Australia, or mandatory military service also known as National Service, has a controversial history dating back to the first years of nationhood...
) during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Objecting to the principle of forced drafting for military purposes under the National Service Act (1964)
National Service Act (1964)
The National Service Act , was an Australian federal law, passed on 24 November 1964, which required 20-year-old males to serve in the Army for a period of twenty-four months of continuous service followed by three years in the Reserve...
, Zarb refused to nominate for conscription. John is of Maltese
Maltese people
The Maltese are an ethnic group indigenous to the Southern European nation of Malta, and identified with the Maltese language. Malta is an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea...
heritage.
On 14 October 1968, John Zarb, 21, was the first person to be found guilty of having failed to comply with his call up notice during the Vietnam War. Zarb was convicted in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and sentenced to two years jail. He lost his appeal to the full High Court on 25 November 1968. He was released on compassionate grounds in August 1969 after serving 10 months and 7 days in Pentridge Prison
HM Prison Pentridge
HM Prison Pentridge was an Australian prison built in 1850 in Coburg, Victoria. The first prisoners arrived in 1851. The prison officially closed on 1 May 1997....
.
Zarb's gaoling created a great deal of public opposition to conscription. As a postman, Zarb received support from his trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
, the Amalgamated Postal Workers Union (APWU). General Secretary George Slater, stated:
- John Zarb is a political prisoner, gaoled by fascists. He refuses to take part in the murder of people who have done him no harm. He upholds the Christian principle of "thou shalt not kill'."
Thirty four Victorian union officials demanded Zarb's immediate release and protests against his gaoling were often in the newspaper headlines of the time.