ToxicSAS

Media Release: Secret SAS training centre occupied by four Christians from “Christians Against All Terrorism”

Monday 30^th November, 2020, 6am

Four anti-war activists from “Christians Against ALL Terrorism” are on Swan Island, protesting and shining a light on the secretive spy and SAS training base, just one hour west of Melbourne.

UPDATE! Four Christians have been arrested by Vic Police and have been removed from the SAS Training base after disrupting the ongoing SAS training there this morning. [See live video on the Wage Peace Facebook page] Summary now on youtube, They have called to #AbolishtheSAS and to #StopTrainingKillers

Peter Murnane a Dominican Priest, Shane Anderson, Jim Dowling and Greg Rolles have accessed the base early this morning.

“We act to draw attention to terrible war crimes, and to help bring them to an end.” Murnane said. “There needs to be an independent enquiry conducted by a body not connected to the military, and we need to immediately disband the SAS. The Brereton enquiry has shown us that the SAS has committed horrendous war crimes. The SAS stoops to waging the worst forms of warfare.”

In 2014, four Christian peace activists were tortured on Swan Island by members of the Swan Island Army Detachment (which includes the SAS).

“As Christians working for peace, we have come back here to remind the SAS of the crimes they committed, of violence and torture towards four men who were nonviolently demonstrating.” Murnane said. “It is love that is basic to humanity, not violence of any kind, whether domestic or international.”

Greg Rolles, 39, was one of those brutally assaulted by the SAS in October 2014 “Love must actively resist violence. Only by this can we heal the victims of war, or heal the soldiers trained to commit this brutality, to heal our earth, and heal our world.” Rolles said.

The Brereton Report has highlighted 39 horrendous war crimes committed by SAS personnel, many of whom have most likely trained at Swan Island military base, right here in Victoria. It is not enough that these 39 war crimes be internally investigated, the SAS needs to be disbanded immediately.

Background

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Twitter: @wagepeaceau

‘Power and pain’: an Australian citizens’ encounter with the SAS

Kieran Finnane Pearls and Irritations 26 November 2020

‘Power and pain’: an Australian citizens’ encounter with the SAS

Three anti-war protesters sue Defence Force over alleged assault during protest

Emily Moulton News.com.au 30 September, 2015

Greg Rolles from the Swan Island Peace Convergence group has launched legal action against the Australian Defence Force claiming he was ‘threatened with anal rape’ by an unidentified officer. Picture: Nathan Dyer Source: News Corp Australia

Scott asks about Secret SAS squad investigated for alleged rape and drowning threats

Senate Estimates 23 October, 2014

Scott Ludlam asks about the existence of a secret SAS 4 Squadron and the alleged capture of peace activists at Swan Island using brutal force such as having their clothes ripped off, their heads covered in hessian bags, their hands and feet bound with cable ties and threats of rape and drowning. (Senate Estimates) — Then Senator Scott Ludlam grills Lieutenant General David Morrison and Air Chief Marshal Mark Donald Binskin about the existence of a secret SAS 4 Squadron and the alleged capture of peace activists at Swan Island using brutal force such as having their clothes ripped off, their heads covered in hessian bags, their hands and feet bound with cable ties and threats of rape and drowning.

ASIS base protesters claim mistreatment in ‘Guantanamo Bay’ style

Louise Milligan ABC 9 October 2014

Anti-war protesters claim they were abused on Swan Island intelligence facility

Peter Michelborough at the Herald Sun 2 Oct, 2017

Herald Sun article Anti-war protesters claim assault illegal — *Swan Island Peace Convergence group spokesman Greg Rolles is suing over his treatment by the defence force.*

Anti-war activists who broke into Swan Island military base to be charged.

The Guardian Helen Davidson 2 October, 2014

*Defence Force Inquiry Report into the circumstances surrounding the trespass incident at Swan Island on 02 October 2014*

Protests at the entrance to the Swan Island SAS training facility 2014: Bnaner Who's dirty wars are the SAS fighting — **Click to download 300dpi version** *Protests at the entrance to the Swan Island SAS training facility 2014: Banner Who’s dirty wars are the SAS fighting?*

…because War Crimes Matter

Members of the #ToxicSAS have been issued with ‘formal notices’: they will have to defend acts defined as ‘war crimes’ against poor people in Afghanistan. See article below.

This is the same militarisation, born of #foreverwar, that has poured into US culture. It is now being enacted by a #militarisedpolice in response to the largely nonviolent #BLM movement. White supremacy and colonisation are at its roots.

We acknowledge and remember that this militarised supremacy first rolled out in Australia aimed at Aboriginal people with a sustained wave of violence.

Even though the #ToxicSAS get massive media coverage, we suggest there are several elements missing from public discussion that a keen peacenik’s eye will want to point out. It is up to us to force these issues into visibility with voice and action.

Save this Image: Save this image and the one below to your phone AND to your computer and use it regularly when you comment on this issue. Share it when the issue hits the news. Comment on new articles.

Your Voice: Promote veterans voices: Remind people that veterans have demanded the exposure of these war crimes. They have different reasons. But they have taken risks and are front-line affected. For example, their peers continue to suicide. Truth and facing up is an important element in psychological healing. They were used by the corrupt States of USA and Australia: Trained as killers. Now training the Indonesian police and spreading the US bastardry.

Your Voice: Call for the release of the Brereton Report: Even Andrew Hastie, the WA member of parliament, an ex-soldier, has requested for the Brereton Report to be released and be transparent.

But it is not clear yet that we will see it. This is the Defence Minister’s responsibility and Raytheon’s person on the inside @LindaReynoldsWA is highly problematic. Contact her and politely berate her.

Your Voice: Ensure trials are heard in the open: We are witnessing more and more secret trials. It turns out that even our own activist trials at Pine Gap were practice for this sort of excessive secrecy. War Crimes trials must be heard in the open so we can understand the dynamics of militarised, industrialised abuse.

Your Voice: Use the hashtag #NameSoldierC: The Soldier involved in killing the unarmed Afghan man in the wheat-field, as revealed earlier this year on Four Corners, should be named. Other alleged murderers in our society are named before trial. Please, use this hashtag. Follow @Wagepeaceau on twitter. There are still not enough of you on twitter!

Your Voice: Make Governor General David Hurley visible and central – and his band of Top-Brass – throughout any trials. Wage Peace urges you to OFTEN remind people that “Governor General” General David Hurley was Chief of Defence when these murders occurred. Like Kerr before him he did the work of the US. Ask why the ‘investigation’ Hurley oversaw, came up with nothing despite the helmet-cam recording and the credible report by a witness.

Hurley oversaw the war crimes.
Hurley’s ‘investigations’ of war crimes led to nothing until he left the post. Activists experienced the violence directly at Swan Island – that’s when the violence was revealed at the parliamentary Senate estimates.
Hurley must have lied about the state of the war to the Australian people and to the parliament, in line with the lies of his US counterparts
Hurley allowed the soldiers to keep returning to the US Security Forces where they were positioned as killers for the US army, for which they were glorified as reward.
Hurley himself was rewarded with career moves: First Governor of NSW and then to the role as so called “Head of State”.

Like Archbishop Hollingsworth before them, men in positions of power overseeing abuse must be removed from roles of prominence. If you called for the fall of the patriarchs of the Catholic Church, you should also be calling for the fall of the patriarchs of the Australian Defence Force.

These men used the wars to promote themselves into positions of further abuse: Gen. Peter Leahy for example is on the board of a significant arms dealer. Gen. Mike Hindmarsh operates in the Middle East facilitating arms deals through his position as as Senior Officer in the UAE Presidential Guard [security forces].

Link the #ToxicSAS to US militarism and colonisation: Because #BlackLivesMatter. We know that dangerous policing has its roots in militarised culture. #Afghanistan and #Iraq matter. #WarCrimesmatter.

Please reply to this email and contact us with your thoughts.

Yours sincerely,

Margie and the Wage Peace team

Publication info: Sunday Telegraph ; Surry Hills, N.S.W. [Surry Hills, N.S.W]31 May 2020: 5.

AUSTRALIAN special forces soldiers have been served with formal notices accusing them of committing war crimes while fighting in Afghanistan.

The extraordinary development comes four years after investigations began into rumours that special forces operators were involved in unlawful killings and cruelty while in Afghanistan.

In recent days, a number of soldiers have received notices from the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force, NSW Court of Appeal Judge Justice Paul Brereton.

Most are former soldiers although some are understood to be current members of the ADF.

The notices advise the soldiers he intends to make adverse findings against them, and gives them a period in which to justify or explain their actions.

Those adverse findings include breaches of the Law of Armed Conflict and other misconduct allegations.

The soldiers have several weeks to respond, then Justice Brereton’s final report will go to the Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, along with a series of recommendations.

This could include criminal prosecutions. Current members can be recommended for discharge from the army.

The report is due to be handed down in July and will ultimately go to the government.

“Further dissemination of the report or material within it will be a matter for the Chief of the Defence Force,” an IGADF spokesman said.

The Department of Defence has had to develop contingency plans to deal with the mental health fallout from such a finding against previously revered soldiers.

President of the Australian Commando Association and the RSL Greg Melick said the inquiry was not yet complete.

“The mere fact the notices have been served doesn’t imply guilt and it is inappropriate to speculate until the process is complete,’’ he said.

“The speculation has been very damaging to the health and welfare of not only many veterans but their families.’’ In a separate but parallel inquiry, the Australian Federal Police continue to investigate two allegations of war crimes allegedly involving two special forces soldiers.

One is known only as Soldier C, while the second is Australia’s most decorated war hero, Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith.

With regards to Soldier C, the AFP said: “The Australian Federal Police received a complaint from the Minister for Defence regarding footage aired on the ABC, concerning the actions of ADF members and the death of a man in Afghanistan.

“The AFP has commenced an investigation and will not comment further while it remains ongoing.” Mr Roberts-Smith strongly denies wrongdoing and is suing Nine for allegations it published against him. The case continues this week. Mr Roberts-Smith’s lawyer Mark O’Brien was asked to confirm whether his client had received an adverse finding notice, and if so whether he would like to comment on it. He said: “I have no comment on any part of that question.’’

CREDIT: Ellen Whinnett; Exclusive

References

Veteran Suicides – Australia launches inquiry into military veteran suicides

At War with the Truth – The Washington Files

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We ‘organise’ and ‘mobilise’ to #EndWarCulture

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Support McBride – It’s About Exposing War Crimes

McBride actions… Protect Whistleblowers – Defend Democracy

Whistleblowers expose War Crimes. Third gathering outside the Supreme Court 18th July 2019

Person with tape over his mouth saying Truth Speaks, with banner "Drop the prosecutions of Witness K and Bernard Coleary - A travesty of justice and democracy!" — We wore tape over our mouths. Truth Speaks, with banner “Drop the prosecutions of Witness K and Bernard Coleary – A travesty of justice and democracy!”

We had fun painting the banner – Cate, Lorese and Lesley – with cake.

David McBride addressed the crowd

“(It’s not to do with my case)… in Syria – I think it was Amnesty International worked out that the coalition declared we killed 100 civilians in a particular bombing action, and it turned out we had actually killed 1,100 … They achieved this by reclassifying the definition of civilians… by saying anyone above 16 and below 60 is not a civilian, they’re a combatant. And that’s sickening. And that’s us, that’s not the enemy, that’s us.

And without people like you [protesters], we will become the bad guys.”

Alex White from Unions ACT

“The attacks on whistleblowers are an attack on democracy and all of us. Solidarity with David McBride in the Supreme Court today.

Governments and power holders need to be held accountable.”

Tim Hollow (on the left holding the banner) from the Green Institute spoke:

“The essence of democracy is being able to dissent, safely, constructively, loudly, if necessary. And when those in power start taking away our right to dissent, our democracy is in trouble.

When those in power are raiding media offices in a way clearly designed to provoke fear and suppress critical coverage;
When those in power are delegitimising advocacy by civil society groups, attacking charities and unions and campaigning organisations;
When those in power are criminalising protest, hugely increasing sanctions for non-violent civil disobedience;
When those in power are threatening whistleblowers with multiple Lifetimes in jail, we know our democracy is in real trouble.”

Sue Wareham: Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW) and International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)

“According to the Nuremberg trials; to initiate war of aggression is the supreme international crime; and yet our PM is set to ask Trump not ‘how can we prevent a war in Iran’, but ‘How can we assist in a war in Iran?'”

“Terrible things happen in the course of war because warfare is more or less a platform for human rights abuses and we shouldn’t be surprised by that. But perhaps if the veil of secrecy over what happens in wartime – in our name – if that veil of secrecy is lifted – and if we know more about what is done in our name, then perhaps we’d think more carefully before we keep sending our troops, again and again and again – to battle.”

Ongoing Support for McBride – Exposing War Crimes cannot be a crime

Speak Out! Drop the prosecutions! This is not Justice!

#ProsecuteWarCrimes NOT #Whistleblowers

Thanks to those of you who joined us on the 27th June. It was a great gathering with lots of interesting speakers, and it got our protest in the news, with our banner – Protect Whistleblowers, Defend Democracy.

Special thanks to Kathryn Kelly and IPAN for inviting many organisations and arranging the speakers.

David McBride is before the Supreme Court again Thursday 11th of July. We will be there from 8:30am to support him. He exposed war crimes and the toxic culture that enables them.

Ongoing Support for McBride – Exposing War Crimes cannot be a crime (link to Facebook event)

July 2019: We will have tape over our mouths and hold banners representing the war crimes that the Government would rather have remained hidden.

We must protect whistleblowers – the people in power must be held accountable for their actions.

It is our democratic right to speak up when we see wrongdoing.

If you can’t be there in person please support us on Social Media.

Like, love and share photos and video from www.facebook.com/wagepeaceau

For updates see the Wage Peace Facebook event: Support McBride – Exposing War Crimes cannot be a crime Facebook event

The Swan Island 3 settle: Still a #ToxicSAS?

Our friends from the Victorian based #SwanIslandPeace #ToxicSAS projects, share news regarding their civil case which has been settled. We know some of you were supporting.

Yours in peace,

Margaret Pestorius, Wage Peace

From Greg, Sam and Dave:

“We wanted to update you all on our case against the Australian Defence Force. Early in the process the Commonwealth stepped in and took vicarious liability for the actions of the Australian Defence Force members who committed the assaults, so our case was against the Commonwealth.

Near the beginning of the proceedings we plaintiffs Greg, Sam and Dave agreed we wanted an acknowledgement of wrong doing, and a public apology from the ADF. It is now four years since the assaults and the ADF have made it abundantly clear that there will never be an apology, public or otherwise.

On Friday (15/6), a mandatory mediation occurred before the expected trial. In mediation we agreed on a settlement, meaning that this long gruelling process is finally over. It was a very difficult decision, and while we have questioned whether or not to see it as a victory, disappointment and relief seemed to be the biggest feelings of the day. We are confident that procedures have already changed as a result of our experiences.

Our case has resulted in changed procedures in Australia, but not in war theatres. We will keep working for change for our sisters and brothers in affected war theatres, and encourage you to do the same.

As with most mediation, the settlement requires that we do not talk about the details of the settlement itself, so we ask you to accept our decision not to share those details.

There will be more to do around media in the weeks to come. We will keep you in the loop on that.

Thanks for all your support. We appreciate all who had planned to come to court with us.”

Cheers,

Sam, Dave & Greg

BACKGROUND

ADF Atrocities: Linked to a US Culture of War; Linked to War Crimes.

The abuse of protesters is on the lower end of atrocities committed by SAS and ADF members in Afghanistan and elsewhere overseas. A secretive inquiry is being conducted by the Inspector General of the ADF. Its subject matter: the murder of innocents, cover-ups, obstruction of justice – matters raised by whistle-blowers as revealed last year in #theAfghanFiles.

You can read more about this from our previous email or here at the Wage Peace Website

P.S. Read Greg Rolles’ personal reflection on what this situation means to him.

“When I was younger I dreamed of being in the army…”.

Resources

ABC story - The Afghan Files — abc-the-afghan-files

Unarmed men, children among the casualties of elite forces ABC, 11 July 2017

Anti-war protesters claim they were abused on Swan Island intelligence facility Herald Sun, 2 October 2017

What is Swan Island? Richard Tanter, Nautilus Institute, 21 October 2014

Alleged Abuse of protesters against war in Iraq The Age, 17 October 2014

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Wage Peace happens on Sovereign Aboriginal Land – mostly Sovereign Yidindji Government Land – but also on the land of the Bunjalung and the Ngunnawal people. We acknowledge the Traditional Authority of the people on whose Land we live.

Those of us working on the project are around the country and we invite you to play with us. or donate!

Facebook Twitter www.wagepeaceau.org

WAGE PEACE provides strategic messaging and digital campaign support
for campaigns & groups disturbing war & militarism in Australia.

We ‘organise’ and ‘mobilise’ to #EndWarCulture

@MarisePayne “I call upon you to restore Australian’s reputation by fighting this culture of abuse.”

Dear Minister @MarisePayne

Australia is a country that calls itself an open and accountable democracy. We aim to show other countries how to act in a humane way to their citizens. So I was appalled to hear from a friend about events in September 2014. Protesters were hooded, zip-tied and had their clothing cut from their body. They were then beaten and threatened with rape and drowning at the secretive SAS military base at Swan Island, Victoria. Apparently a 2015 defence report admits this.

I note that the mission for the Australian Defence Forces is just that- the defence of Australia from armed attack. Yet in recent years we have strayed from this mission to support foreign countries in their wars against some of the poorest nations in the world.

I am concerned that the more brutal culture of US forces has contaminated our military. If this is the treatment given to Australians, how are the military behaving to people caught in the centre of armed conflict?

I call upon you to restore Australian’s reputation by fighting this culture of abuse. Transparency and taking responsibility for the terrible events at Swan island at the current court case concerning the protesters’ violent ordeal would be a start.

Please also support the next Chief of Defence Angus Campbell to continue his work addressing the culture of abuse. Angus Campbell knows that for the mental health of his soldiers he must demand open discussion.

Support is needed to fight drug addict and post traumatic stress disorder. And a rethink of the foreign policies that are sacrificing our ideals, our soldiers’ mental and physical health- and even their lives – for tenuous wars that result in the slaughter and suffering of so many of our fellow human beings.

I would be very interested in hearing your views on this matter.

Regards,

Sarah

A letter from Sarah Isaacs regarding #ToxicSAS

SMH: SAS soldiers committed alleged war crimes in Afghanistan: official report

By Nick McKenzie & Chris Masters

7 June 2018 — 6:38pm

ToxicSAS

‘Power and pain’: an Australian citizens’ encounter with the SAS

Three anti-war protesters sue Defence Force over alleged assault during protest

Scott asks about Secret SAS squad investigated for alleged rape and drowning threats

ASIS base protesters claim mistreatment in ‘Guantanamo Bay’ style

Anti-war protesters claim they were abused on Swan Island intelligence facility

Anti-war activists who broke into Swan Island military base to be charged.

AUSTRALIAN special forces soldiers have been served with formal notices accusing them of committing war crimes while fighting in Afghanistan.

Thanks to Beyond War for the use of their database: you can unsubscribe below at any time.

Wage Peace happens on Sovereign Aboriginal Land – mostly Sovereign Yidindji Sovereign Land – but also on the land of the Jagara, the Bunjalung and the Ngunnawal people. We acknowledge the Tribal Authority of the people on whose Land we live.

Those of us working on the project are around the country and we invite you to play/volunteer with us. or donate!

#WAGEPEACE

McBride actions… Protect Whistleblowers – Defend Democracy

Ongoing Support for McBride – Exposing War Crimes cannot be a crime

BACKGROUND

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Thanks to Beyond War for the use of their database: you can unsubscribe at any time.

Wage Peace happens on Sovereign Aboriginal Land – mostly Sovereign Yidindji Government Land – but also on the land of the Bunjalung and the Ngunnawal people. We acknowledge the Traditional Authority of the people on whose Land we live.

Those of us working on the project are around the country and we invite you to play with us. or donate!

By Nick McKenzie & Chris Masters

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