The Clipboard: British general's pledge on abuse claims

From an article¹:

General Sir Mike Jackson, the head of the army, last night condemned "utterly" all acts of abuse by British troops in Iraq.

He said that any evidence of such wrongdoing was immediately investigated.

In a statement made after the pictures were released by the court martial in Germany, Gen Jackson said some 65,000 servicemen and women had served in Iraq since the beginning of military operations.

"Only a very small number are alleged to be involved in incidents of this type, and in consequence the number of open investigations into deliberate abuse against Iraqi citizens is very small," he said.

He added that he had every confidence in the military investigative and judicial system. "We have always taken abuse allegations seriously throughout. We will of course study the outcome of this court martial, and consider whether it raises any new issues for the army," said Gen Jackson.

He said that for legal reasons, he could not comment on the photographs while the court martial was going on: "We will, however, be in a position to respond more fully once the verdict has been handed down and any sentences have been passed."

Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrats' foreign affairs spokesman, said last night: "The charges upon which these photographs are based are serious. It is right that due process should be followed in a matter of this kind, and that any proceedings should be in public."

Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK, said the US remained tainted by the widespread allegations of torture that started with sickening pictures from Abu Ghraib jail. "The UK armed forces must ensure that today's pictures do not damage its reputation in the same way," she said. "The Iraqi people must know that UK troops are not above the law. Anyone involved in torture or abuse must be held fully to account."

She added: "International law demands full, independent investigations into any alleged human rights abuses by UK armed forces. The present system - the army investigating the army using the Royal Military Police - is simply not good enough." (link)

Meanwhile, across the pond...

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Complete text of the article, General's pledge on abuse claims, by Richard Norton-Taylor and Sam Jones

General Sir Mike Jackson, the head of the army, last night condemned "utterly" all acts of abuse by British troops in Iraq.

He said that any evidence of such wrongdoing was immediately investigated.

In a statement made after the pictures were released by the court martial in Germany, Gen Jackson said some 65,000 servicemen and women had served in Iraq since the beginning of military operations.

"Only a very small number are alleged to be involved in incidents of this type, and in consequence the number of open investigations into deliberate abuse against Iraqi citizens is very small," he said.

He added that he had every confidence in the military investigative and judicial system. "We have always taken abuse allegations seriously throughout. We will of course study the outcome of this court martial, and consider whether it raises any new issues for the army," said Gen Jackson.

He said that for legal reasons, he could not comment on the photographs while the court martial was going on: "We will, however, be in a position to respond more fully once the verdict has been handed down and any sentences have been passed."

Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrats' foreign affairs spokesman, said last night: "The charges upon which these photographs are based are serious. It is right that due process should be followed in a matter of this kind, and that any proceedings should be in public."

Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK, said the US remained tainted by the widespread allegations of torture that started with sickening pictures from Abu Ghraib jail. "The UK armed forces must ensure that today's pictures do not damage its reputation in the same way," she said. "The Iraqi people must know that UK troops are not above the law. Anyone involved in torture or abuse must be held fully to account."

She added: "International law demands full, independent investigations into any alleged human rights abuses by UK armed forces. The present system - the army investigating the army using the Royal Military Police - is simply not good enough."

Whatever the outcome of the trial, its effects are likely to be felt both inside and outside Iraq. The allegations of abuse come less than a fortnight before Iraqis go to the polls to elect a transitional national as sembly on January 30. Many Iraqis are highly sceptical about the elections.

Iraq's interim prime minister, Ayad Allawi, has admitted that continuing violence will mean that people in some parts of the country will be prevented from voting. Others see the vote as a US-organised attempt to control Iraq's future.

The verdict could also affect how Britain votes in this year's general election, which is likely to take place in May. A recent book about the turbulent relationship between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown claimed that the prime minister was so struck by the public backlash over the war in Iraq that he considered resigning.

A number of other British soldiers face the prospect of a court martial or criminal trials following the deaths of Iraqi civilians or their alleged mistreatment.

The charges

Lance Corporal Mark Cooley

Aged 25, from Newcastle, the youngest of the three soldiers has been charged with two offences involving conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, contrary to section 69 of the Army Act 1955.

He is alleged to have simulated punching an unknown male who was being held by British forces. He is also accused of twice having his photograph taken while simulating such abuse.

He faces a further charge of disgraceful conduct of a cruel kind after allegedly placing "an unknown male, who was being detained by British forces and whose hands were tied, on the forks of a forklift truck, raised the forks and drove the forklift truck".

He denies all the charges. The court heard, however, that he admitted simulating the punch and moving the man with a forklift truck to get him "out of the sun".

Lance Corporal Darren Larkin

Aged 30, from Oldham, he has pleaded guilty to a civil charge of battery, admitting that he assaulted an unknown Iraqi man by beating him. His barrister, William England, told the court that his client had always accepted his part in that offence. "He is ashamed of his unacceptable and mindless act. He knows he has brought shame on his proud regiment, himself and his family," he said.

L/Cpl Larkin is also accused of disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind and is said to have forced two unknown males to undress in front of others. He denies this charge.

Corporal Daniel Kenyon

Aged 33, the most senior in rank of the three soldiers, with 15 years' service, Cpl Kenyon is facing six charges. The first is aiding and abetting L/Cpl Larkin in the battery of the unknown Iraqi. The second is that he failed to report the incident involving the Iraqi suspended in the forklift truck to his superior officers. He is also accused of aiding and abetting L/Cpl Larkin in his alleged offence of forcing two men to strip naked.

He is further charged with disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind and is said to have "aided and abetted a person or persons unknown to force two unknown naked males who were being detained by British forces to simulate a sexual act". He faces a separate charge that on another occasion he aided and abetted the forcing of two men to simulate a sexual act. He is also accused of failing to report that soldiers under his command had forced two unknown naked males to simulate an act of oral sex.

He denies all the charges.

reference=http://www.guardian.co.uk/military/story/0,11816,1393619,00.html