Understanding the major Australian war crimes report that came out yesterday
A major war crimes report came out yesterday. It alleges Australian soldiers killed 39 civilians and prisoners in Afghanistan.
Understanding the report
What does the report claim?
How did this all allegedly happen?
What happens next?
1 - What does the report claim?
According to the partly-classified findings of the four-year investigation into alleged war crimes, Australian soldiers allegedly killed up to 39 civilians and prisoners in Afghanistan over an 11-year period.
The details of some of the allegations, and the names of the alleged perpetrators, remain classified.
But what was released to the public paints a dark picture.
In one alleged incident, new special forces recruits were required to shoot helpless prisoners in order to achieve their first kill.
In another incident, soldiers allegedly planted weapons on killed civilians before taking photos - a practice described in the report as “site exploitation pornography”.
2 - How did this all allegedly happen?
The head of the Australian Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, said the report showed problems with a “self-centred warrior culture” within Australia’s special forces that had to be dealt with.
“The report notes that the distorted culture was embraced and amplified by some experienced, charismatic and influential non-commissioned officers and their proteges, who sought to fuse military excellence with ego, elitism and entitlement… Cutting corners, ignoring and bending rules was normalised.”
General Campbell on Thursday
3 - What happens next?
The report’s findings will now go to the AFP and a special prosecutor who will choose which allegations to prosecute in court. The process could take years. At the end of it, three things could happen to Australia’s alleged war criminals.
What could happen to Australia’s alleged war criminals:
Lengthy criminal trials to determine whether war crimes were committed
Jail time for breaking the rules of war
If found guilty, the stripping of any medals received for war efforts