MCA leader urges Australia to prosecute soldiers over Afghan killings
An MCA leader has urged Australia to prosecute its soldiers who were involved in the killing of 39 civilians in Afghanistan.
In a statement today, MCA international communication and diplomacy bureau chairperson Tee Ching Seng said the killing of Afghans, which did not occur in the battlefield, was not only unforgivable but a crime against humanity...
An MCA leader has urged Australia to prosecute its soldiers who were involved in the killing of 39 civilians in Afghanistan.
In a statement today, MCA international communication and diplomacy bureau chairperson Tee Ching Seng (above) said the killing of Afghans, which did not occur in the battlefield, was not only unforgivable but a crime against humanity.
"I hope that Australia will move towards according justice to the victims and that it remains committed to maintaining its nation’s good international judicial system and rule of law.
"Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said that the report findings was 'disturbing' but has insisted war crime allegations must be dealt with by the Australian justice system.
"His move to announce an establishment of a new agency, appoint a special investigator to supervise and initiate criminal investigations for war crimes is welcome," Tee said.
Tee hoped to see justice prevail through the prosecution of 19 Australian soldiers and said that the military leadership must also take responsibility to ensure that lessons are learned and never repeated.
"According to the rules of war, these Australian military offenders ignored the lives of the Afghans and took the law and human lives into their own hands.
"Their behaviour seriously failed the trust of Afghanistan who requested Australia’s help.
"The Australian government should consider including criminal prosecution of those responsible for war crimes, immediate payment of compensation to victims and their families, and the termination of military and civilian awards and medals for those involved."
It was reported last month that an inquiry into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan set up by the Australian Defence Force in March 2016, found that Australian troops killed 39 civilians and prisoners unlawfully in an environment of "blood lust" and "competition killings".
None of the 39 alleged unlawful killings happened in the heat of battle, according to the report, and the Afghans who died were non-combatants or no longer combatants.
Australia had apologised over the brutal act and pledged to act against the soldiers involved in the killings.
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