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SYDNEY: Australian military personnel who spoke out against the alleged war crimes in Afghanistan said on Friday (November 20) that they felt justified by an investigation calling for possible prosecution of the troops as the country reacted with shame and anger. given the seriousness of the findings. .
A report released Thursday found that Australian special forces allegedly killed 39 unarmed prisoners and civilians in Afghanistan, with high-ranking commandos forcing young soldiers to kill defenseless captives to “bloodshed” them for combat.
The report recommended referring 19 current and former soldiers for possible prosecution, in an event that sparked anguish in Australia, which generally fervently honors its military history.
David McBride, a former military lawyer facing charges for leaking information about the actions of special forces in Afghanistan, was “encouraged” by the report after years of being treated as a “traitor to the excavators,” he told Reuters his lawyer Mark Davis, using the Australian report. lingo for soldiers.
“If the allegations he made earlier are proven, he will feel vindicated whatever the penalty,” Davis said by phone. “His reputation will be intact and his sense of honor will be intact.”
McBride has confirmed that he turned over classified documents to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), prompting charges against him and an investigation into the public broadcaster that sensationally led to a raid on its Sydney headquarters last year.
Police dropped the ABC investigation last month, citing a lack of public interest in proceeding, but McBride still faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted after a trial that begins next year. His charges must now also be dropped, his attorney Davis said.
Dusty Miller, a special forces medic who testified in the investigation, told ABC that hearing the country’s defense chief publicly confirm his claims was “a complete vindication.”
READ: Human rights group and Afghan envoy want more investigations into war crimes
The report has been described by Australian leaders as one of Australia’s darkest military chapters, just nine days after the country’s Remembrance Day for fallen soldiers, when it is customary to wear a red poppy to show respect.
Top lawmakers walked a delicate line in condemning the report’s allegations and supporting the possibility of prosecutions, while expressing solidarity with the country’s armed forces.
“It made me physically ill, and it was a very harrowing read,” said Defense Minister Linda Reynolds, a former Army officer.
“I know he certainly did not represent my service … and he certainly does not represent the majority of men and women who have served and continue to serve our nation with such great distinction.”
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the allegations were “very serious, but they shouldn’t overshadow the immense good work that defense forces are doing on our behalf.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison previously warned that the report would be concerning for Australia and its military, but has not commented since its publication.
Overnight, the office of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Twitter that Morrison had “expressed his deepest regret” over the allegations.
Reynolds said last week that Canberra had been informed that the local prosecution would dismiss the charges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
People in Kabul, the Afghan capital, welcomed the prospect of bringing the perpetrators to justice, but were divided on the question of where.
“Those who have committed such a great crime must stand up to the law of Afghanistan and must be punished accordingly,” said Abdul Mutahal, a Kabul resident.
Mohammad Isaaq Faiaz, a Shiite imam, said the alleged perpetrators “should be brought to justice in Australia, and the affected families of the martyred should be paid with ransom.”
