Claims of serious abuse at the Australian Defence Force Academy and HMAS Leeuwin naval base are "more widespread and persistent" than previously reported, a high-level inquiry has found. In an interim report, the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce, headed by retired judge Len Roberts-Smith, found that abuse was evident at other recruit schools and training institutions … Continue reading Serious abuse at Australian Defence Academy alarms government
Tag: Stephen Smith
Australian troops in Afghanistan at risk of final Taliban assault
Australian forces in Afghanistan face a risk that insurgents will try to inflict casualties before they depart at the end of the year, Defence Minister Stephen Smith says. Mr Smith says the Australian task force has now consolidated in their base at Tarin Kowt, ending operations alongside Afghan troops. Under current plans, the main Australian … Continue reading Australian troops in Afghanistan at risk of final Taliban assault
Australia raises Cebongan human rights jail killings with Indonesia
Defence Minister Stephen Smith has asked to be kept informed of Indonesian investigations into the alleged involvement of Kopassus special forces soldiers in the murder of four remand prisoners. Mr Smith confirmed today that he had raised the Cebongan jail killings on March 23 with Indonesian counterpart Purnomo Yusgiantoro at their Jakarta meeting. Mr Smith … Continue reading Australia raises Cebongan human rights jail killings with Indonesia
Australia to train Vietnamese troops for U.N. peacekeeping roles
Australia will help train Vietnamese troops to take part in United Nations peacekeeping missions. The decision for Diggers to share their abundant experience on such operations was announced yesterday by defence minister Stephen Smith after talks in Canberra with his Vietnamese counterpart, General Phung Quang Thanh. "Australia will provide training to Vietnam People's Army troops … Continue reading Australia to train Vietnamese troops for U.N. peacekeeping roles
Many Afghans held by Australian troops are falsely accused
More than half the almost 1900 Afghans detained by Australian forces in Oruzgan may have been innocents falsely accused by local enemies , according to the province's chief of police, Matiullah Khan. They were named so their enemies could gain advantages in tribal, business or personal disputes. Asked about the numbers first put forward by … Continue reading Many Afghans held by Australian troops are falsely accused
Craig Hill 