Australian war crimes
Australian war crimes are acts confirmed or alleged to have been committed by the Australian Defence Force that have violated the laws and customs of war. In March 2023, Australia arrested a former SAS veteran over war crimes committed during the war in Afghanistan, becoming the first arrest of an Australian soldier for war crimes under Australian law.[1]
Vietnam
[edit]According to a Vietnam War veteran, at the Nui Dat military base, Australian soldiers killed several Vietnamese civilian bamboo pickers and were instructed to place weapons on their bodies.[2]
Afghanistan
[edit]The 2020 Brereton Report found that Australian special forces had been involved in 39 unlawful killings in Afghanistan. This included a practice of "blooding" where junior soldiers were told to get their first kill by shooting a prisoner.[3]
On 7 April 2026, former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith was arrested for allegedly murdering Afghan civilians between 2009 and 2012.[4]
Iraq
[edit]Several Australian figures have described former Prime Minister John Howard as a war criminal for his decision to participate in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Some notable examples include:
- John Valder, former president of the federal Liberal Party[5]
- Lyn Allison, Australian Democrats Senator[6]
- Andrew Wilkie, Independent MP and former infantry officer[7][8]
- Paul Keating, former Prime Minister of Australia[9]
Additionally, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad labelled Howard a war criminal.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Australian SAS veteran charged with war crime in historic first". ABC News. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ↑ "Vietnam: Slaughter of the innocents". dailytelegraph. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ↑ "Australian 'war crimes': Elite troops killed Afghan civilians, report finds". 19 November 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ↑ "Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith charged with war crimes, taken into custody". ABC News. 7 April 2026. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ↑ "Howard is war criminal, says former colleague". The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 July 2004. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ↑ "Howard accused of war crimes over Iraq troop deployment". ABC News. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ Jabour, Bridie (22 September 2014). "Howard should be tried for 'conspiracy to commit mass murder', says Andrew Wilkie". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ Wilmot, Fadlullah (28 March 2023). "Anniversary of war crimes of Howard, Blair and Bush". AMUST. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ Karp, Paul (8 July 2016). "Paul Keating says John Howard should 'hang his head in shame' over Iraq war". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ "Feisty Mahathir labels Howard a criminal". Sydney Morning Herald. 28 June 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
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