Australian elite troops shot civilians as ‘initiation’
AUSTRALIA’S army chief yesterday apologised “unreservedly” after a fouryear investigation found credible evidence that special forces unlawfully killed 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners.
The inquiry into the conduct of a group of elite Special Air Service troops examined allegations that some had killed civilians, planted weapons on bodies and executed prisoners as an initiation to “blood” junior soldiers.
Gen Angus Campbell, head of the defence force, promised to act on the Brereton report’s “shameful”, “deeply disturbing” and “appalling” findings.
He accepted all 143 recommendations, including referring individuals to the office of the special investigator to consider potential criminal cases, as it was his duty “to set things right”.
“To the people of Afghanistan, on behalf of the Australian Defence Force, I sincerely and unreservedly apologise for any wrongdoing by Australian soldiers,” he said.
The report found evidence that special forces were responsible for dozens of covered-up unlawful killings, mostly involving prisoners. None of the killings took place in the heat of battle and all 39 victims were either non-combatants or were no longer combatants.
The inquiry identified 25 perpetrators, including some who are still serving, as principals or accessories in the crimes. The illegal killings began in 2009, with the majority occurring in 2012 and 2013.
The practice of “blooding” involved a new soldier being “directed to kill the person under control” (the prisoner) by the patrol commander, the report said.
Weapons, radios, and other equipment would be left with the victims as a cover story for the killing.
Maj Gen Justice Paul Brereton, who led the inquiry, called the actions “disgraceful” and “a profound betrayal” of the Australian Defence Force.
The Afghanistan I ndependent Human Rights Commission said the abuses were clearly war crimes and showed “a consensus that Afghan life, whether of men, women or children, had no inherent worth or dignity”.
Dr Philip Chilton, an Australian historian and lecturer on counter-insurgency, said it was “no coincidence” that “these atrocities are being carried out by special forces”.
“They are bred to have a warrior culture – and this is covered in the report – and if you have that you will have things like blooding. You can’t have special forces that are trained to be expert killers, in a way that regular soldiers aren’t, and expect them to do anything other than commit war crimes,” he said.
Dr Chilton added: “The report says higher command is not responsible, and places blame on the NCOS. Who is
‘They are bred to have a warrior culture and if you have that you will have things like blooding’
overseeing them? Where is the oversight of these officers?”
Australian combat troops left Afghanistan in 2013, but since then a series of often brutal accounts have emerged about the conduct of elite units, ranging from reports of troops killing a six-yearold child to a prisoner being shot dead to save space in a helicopter.
Scott Morrison, the Australian prime minister, last week announced the appointment of a special investigator to prosecute the alleged war crimes, a move aimed at forestalling any prosecution at the International Criminal Court.
An independent panel was also set up to drive cultural and leadership changes within the armed forces.
Dr Chilton said he did not expect the soldiers responsible to face serious consequences. “There may be charges pressed, but I don’t think anyone will face any kind of sanction,” he said.