Responding to media reports that a Defence inquiry uncovered allegations within the Australian Defence Force of war crimes committed by special forces personnel in Afghanistan, Amnesty International Australia’s Campaigns Manager Tim O’Connor said:
“Amnesty International is extremely concerned about these reports. The reports, as well as Amnesty’s own research, highlight the urgent need for transparency around the ADF’s operations in conflict zones, and a timely and thorough investigation of its involvement and behaviour.
“At the end of March, Defence made welcome but unacceptably slow admissions of ADF responsibility for civilian deaths in Mosul. And just this week, Amnesty published our investigation into the war of annihilation in Raqqa. That had devastating consequences for the civilian population, and the ADF’s role in it is still unclear.
There are mounting questions around the ADF breaching international human rights law.
Tim O’Connor, Amnesty International Australia Campaigns Manager
“There are mounting questions around the ADF breaching international human rights law. Amnesty International calls on the Australian Government to be transparent about the ADF’s activities, and to inform the Australian media and public as soon as possible about such incidents.”
