Corporal Katie Lockwood from Mentoring Task Force - Three waits for a compound clearance prior to conducting a meeting with local women in Zaradagay, Karrmisan Valley, Southern Afghanistan. Mid Caption: Out in the real Afghanistan away from any Hesco barriers and the safety of hardened accommodation, a Female Engagement Team (FET) has been moving into the local community to talk with the Afghan women. The topics spoken about ranged from health and hygiene, food and water, to education and income and any topics of concern. The FET make up was helpful in the mission’s success, with the participants varying from married, divorced, single and a mother. During their engagement with Afghan women, this range of life experience meant the Aussie female soldiers could relate to the local women. The FET mission was an effective one. The information that was gathered will be reported to the appropriate organisations to assist the area where possible and target changes to those that are needed in that community.
By: Phil Mercer
Source: VOA News
According to the military’s official version of events, the man, who was said to be a senior figure in the Taliban, had tried to escape and had drawn a pistol before being shot dead by an SAS soldier. However, a friend of the victim, who said he witnessed the shooting, said the businessman was unarmed and had not tried to run away. The provincial government also said at the time there was no evidence the man was linked to Taliban insurgents.
The shooting is one of a list of killings involving Australia’s SAS unit that are being examined by a high-powered inquiry.
It has already heard from a soldier who has claimed he helped cover up a war crime in Afghanistan.
Sergeant Kevin Frost described to Australian television his account of an unlawful execution of a prisoner of war.
“The particular incident that I was involved in resulted in the POW [prisoner of war] that I had captured actually being executed, murdered. Now, I cannot remember if he cut the cuffs off first, or he cut the cuffs off after he shot him. That is one point I cannot remember there because I was not looking. I did not want to look. I turned around and the guy was dead. He had been shot through the forehead,” Frost recalled.
The investigation is being carried out by the Inspector General Australian Defense Force with the help of a respected Supreme Court judge in the state of New South Wales.
The inquiry can compel witnesses to give evidence, and has the power to refer cases to other law enforcement and government agencies.
