SYDNEY: Australian special forces have been accused of committing war crimes in Afghanistan in a secret defense report leaked Friday that described a “complete lack of accountability” from top military brass.
The investigation, reported by Fairfax Media, quoted unnamed special forces insiders saying some Australian troops engaged in the “unsanctioned and illegal application of violence on operations” with “a disregard for human dignity.”
The report, which Fairfax said was compiled by defense department consultant Samantha Crompvoets, concerned operations by Australian Special Air Service troops and other elite commandos deployed alongside US and allied forces in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001, attacks.
It described a dysfunctional military organization rife with distrust of senior leaders and competition between different elite units.
“Even more concerning were allusions to behavior and practices involving abuse of drugs and alcohol, domestic violence, unsanctioned and illegal application of violence on operations... and the perception of a complete lack of accountability at times,” the report is quoted as saying.
The Defense Force declined to answer specific questions about the leaked report, but told Fairfax it was taking “all allegations about Australian Forces seriously” and would be making recommendations based on the findings of the inquiry.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also declined to provide details as “there is an investigation underway.”
The opposition Labor party on Friday described the revelations as “deeply concerning” and said subject to national security concerns the report should be made public.
“Our soldiers, particularly our special forces, work in difficult and complex environments,” shadow minister for defense Richard Marles said in a statement.
“It’s important that we know, as a country, that they’re doing it in a professional and legal way.”
Government parliamentarian and former SAS member Andrew Hastie said the allegations “should be taken seriously.”
“We need a free media reporting on all issues that are relevant to the public interest,” he told ABC radio, declining to go into detail about the accusations.
Australian commandos accused of Afghan war crimes
Australian commandos accused of Afghan war crimes
‘Unofficial’ talks on plastic pollution treaty to begin in Japan
- “Plastic pollution is a planetary problem that affects everyone: every country, every community and every individual,” Cordano warned after being elected
TOKYO: Delegates from around 20 countries will hold three days of “informal” talks in Japan from Sunday aimed at salvaging efforts toward a landmark global treaty on plastic pollution.
Supposedly final talks in South Korea in 2024 toward an agreement failed, and a renewed effort in Geneva last August likewise collapsed in overtime.
A Japanese Environment Ministry official said that the “informal” closed-door meeting among “working-level officials” through Tuesday was not expected to result in any official announcement.
If we don’t take concerted action, it will get much worse in the coming decades. A treaty is urgently needed.
Julio Cordano, Chile’s chief climate negotiator
“Japan is in a position of pushing for progress on the issue, and so is hosting the meeting,” the official told AFP without wishing to be named.
She added that “little progress” has been made since August, other than the election in early February of Chile’s chief climate negotiator Julio Cordano as chairman.
“Plastic pollution is a planetary problem that affects everyone: every country, every community and every individual,” Cordano warned after being elected.
“If we don’t take concerted action, it will get much worse in the coming decades. A treaty is urgently needed,” he said.
More than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced globally each year, with half for single-use items.
A large bloc of states wants bold action such as curbing plastic production, while a smaller clutch of oil-producing states wants to focus more narrowly on waste management.
Countries expected to be present in Tokyo include big oil producers like Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United States as well as islands states Antigua and Barbuda and Palau, plus China, India and the European Union.
The UN’s environment chief told AFP in an interview in October that a global treaty remains “totally doable.”
“No one has walked away and said, ‘this is just too hopeless, we’re giving up’,” United Nations Environment Programme executive director Inger Andersen said.
