The Australian Government must establish a full and independent inquiry into the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) detention practices in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC).

The call for an independent inquiry follows further revelations, aired last night on ABC TV’s 7.30, based on documents obtained by PIAC under freedom of information law.

‘The documents reveal the ADF’s role in assisting the US to obstruct the International Committee of the Red Cross from visiting certain detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. They show a disturbing response by Australian officials regarding detainee mistreatment,’ said PIAC chief executive officer, Edward Santow.

‘The documents raise big questions about ADF detention practices and the ADF’s knowledge of illegal interrogation techniques at Abu Ghraib,’ Mr Santow said.

‘The documents show a failure of leadership within Australia’s military hierarchy,’ Mr Santow said.

The previously classified ADF documents are now available online at http://military.piac.asn.au.

The documents reveal:

• The ADF relied on a legal fiction to avoid its commitments under international law regarding the capture of suspected combatants in Afghanistan and Iraq.
• The ADF and the Australian Government mishandled information about illegal interrogation techniques at Abu Ghraib. 

‘We need a full inquiry, with Royal Commission powers, to get to the truth.’

‘The US and UK have been more open to scrutiny about their involvement in this conflict. Australia needs this inquiry to ensure that the ADF has proper procedures in place that ensure our troops abide by international law,’ Mr Santow said.

Hear Edward Santow talk about why we need a full inquiry.

Contacts: Dominic O’Grady, PIAC Media Officer. Ph: 02 8898 6532 or 0400 110 169

Gemma Namey, PIAC Solicitor. M: 0411 312 549

Photo: Flickr