Australia is set to strip senior military officers of their distinguished service medals following allegations of war crimes committed under their command in Afghanistan. The decision, announced on Thursday, comes in the wake of the 2020 Brereton Report, which uncovered evidence implicating Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel in the unlawful killing of 39 prisoners and civilians during the conflict.
Response to National Shame
Speaking on the matter, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles acknowledged the gravity of the allegations involving around two dozen ADF personnel. He referred to the events as a source of "national shame" but emphasized that the actions of these individuals should not overshadow the contributions of the 26,000 Australians who served in Afghanistan.
"With the exception of a few, they carried out their duties with professionalism, honour, and integrity. They have much to be proud of, and we stand proud of their service," Marles said.
Command Responsibility and Accountability
The four-year inquiry led by Major General Paul Brereton did not find evidence that high-ranking military officers were aware of the alleged war crimes. However, the report concluded that commanders at various levels, including troop, squadron, and task group leaders, bear "moral command responsibility and accountability" for the actions of their subordinates during the conflict.
In a related improvement, previous Extraordinary Discuss Benefit Regiment trooper Oliver Schulz was charged in Walk of final year with the kill of an Afghan man in 2012. Schulz is the first serving or former ADF member to face charges for a war crime-related murder, marking a significant moment in Australia's efforts to address accountability within its armed forces.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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