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Elite Australian soldiers have committed war crimes in Afghanistan
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Angus Campbell, Chief of the Australian Defense Forces, presented the investigation report on his troops’ mission in Afghanistan
Source: dpa / Mick Tasikas
There have long been allegations that the Australian military committed war crimes while stationed in Afghanistan. Seven years after the troops’ withdrawal, there is now a report that also reports a disturbing initiation ritual.
AThe Australian military has recognized the war crimes committed by elite Australian soldiers in Afghanistan. A multi-year investigation has provided credible evidence that members of an elite unit have “illegally killed” at least 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners, Australian Defense Forces Chief Angus Campbell said Thursday in Canberra.
Some militaries have “taken the law into their own hands,” Campbell said. “The laws were broken, the stories put together, the lies told and the prisoners killed.” The investigation report revealed a “shameful record”. For example, the new arrivals were forced to kill a prisoner to win the respect of the troops.
Campbell said 25 soldiers were involved in the 23 uncovered incidents. He accused them of “polluting” their regiment, the army and all of Australia with their actions.
“On behalf of the Australian military, I sincerely and unreservedly apologize to the Afghan people for any wrongdoing,” Campbell said. He demanded that suspected soldiers be prosecuted for war crimes and that some awards that had been given to affected soldiers between 2007 and 2013 be withdrawn.
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Australia sent more than 26,000 troops to Afghanistan to fight alongside the US military against Islamist militias like the Taliban and al-Qaeda. In 2013, Australia withdrew its troops from the country. Since then, serious allegations have been raised against elite Australian soldiers.
The charges ranged from the killing of a six-year-old boy during a home search to the killing of a prisoner to make way for a helicopter.
The special investigator takes care of the pursuit
A week ago, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison appointed a special investigator to facilitate the prosecution of military personnel. At the same time, he asked the population to look “honest and brutal truths” in the eye.
In a telephone conversation with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday, Morrison said there were “some disturbing allegations” against the soldiers that his government took “very seriously”.
The Afghan presidential office said on Twitter that Morrison had expressed “deep sorrow for the misconduct” of the Australian soldiers. The Australian government has so far expressly avoided talking about military misconduct.
Critics accuse the Morrison administration of suppressing allegations of wrongdoing by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan for years. On occasion, the police investigated reporters from ABC television, who first reported alleged war crimes in “Afghanistan files” in 2017.
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