Uproar over Australian army vehicle flying swastika flag

SYDNEY: An Australian army vehicle flew a Nazi swastika f lag during an operation in Afghanistan, the prime minister confirmed yesterday in an act he called ‘completely and utterly unacceptable’.

National broadcaster ABC published a leaked photo of the 2007 incident and cited a defence source as saying it was more a ‘ twisted joke’ than evidence of genuine neo-Nazism.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said displaying a Nazi flag was ‘absolutely wrong’.

“Completely and utterly unacceptable,” he told reporters. “It was reported (to officials) in 2007, that incident, and the flag obviously was removed and the personnel involved were disciplined,” he told reporters.

“But the incident, it was wrong ... it was absolutely wrong, and their commanders took action at the time.” The defence department said in a statement to AFP that ‘neither the flag nor its use are in line with defence values’.

“The f lag was brief ly raised above an Australian Army vehicle in Afghanistan in 2007. The commander took immediate action to have the offensive flag taken down,” it said, adding that it was later destroyed and those involved cautioned.

“Additionally, steps were taken to reinforce education and training for all personnel who witnessed the flag.” — AFP