Military to probe response to sex charges
Two disturbing sex abuse stories today… notice how a position of power plays a role in both of these sad tales?
Bruce Campion-Smith, The Toronto Star
Nov 22, 2008
Afghan soldiers accused of assaulting children
OTTAWA–The head of Canada’s army has launched an investigation into reports that Afghan soldiers were assaulting children and how the Canadian Forces responded when they heard about the allegations.
Lt-Gen. Andrew Leslie, chief of the land staff, yesterday announced that a board of inquiry has been convened to investigate the circumstances surrounding allegations of assault by Afghan National Security Forces members in late 2006 or early 2007.
The investigation appears to be a response to Star articles in June that highlighted troubling allegations of sexual assault by members of the Afghan forces on young boys.
“We will examine and report on these allegations to determine what may have occurred, the circumstances surrounding these allegations, what the Canadian Forces responsibility is in instances such as these, what actions were taken as a result, and to make specific recommendations for the future,” Brig.-Gen. Glenn Nordick, who has been tapped to lead the investigative team, said in a release.
In June, the Star reported the story of Cpl. Travis Schouten, who served in Afghanistan where he was told by an Afghan translator about “Man Sex Thursday,” a weekly routine in which Afghan soldiers, police and translators sexually abused young boys.
A military chaplain told the Star at the time that Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan were ordered by commanding officers “to ignore” incidents of sexual assault among the civilian population.
A military spokesperson was unable to confirm yesterday whether the new investigation is related to these assaults. However, the news release announcing the probe says it “stems from allegations reported in the media of possible abuse of Afghan minors by Afghan National Security Forces.”
The probe appears to centre on the allegation levelled by Schouten, who told the Star how he is overwhelmed with guilt for not having intervened when he heard what he believes were the cries of boys being sexually assaulted. He says he later saw a young boy, barely alive, with signs of rape trauma.
The inquiry is expected to be completed next spring.
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December 4th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
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December 23rd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
[...] governor | Obama’s planned troop surge in Afghanistan could lead to more violence: ISAF | Military to probe response to sex charges | US General David Petraeus to take CENTCOM helm for Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan | [...]
January 28th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
[...] governor | Obama’s planned troop surge in Afghanistan could lead to more violence: ISAF | Military to probe response to sex charges | US General David Petraeus to take CENTCOM helm for Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan | [...]
January 30th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
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February 27th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
[...] governor | Obama’s planned troop surge in Afghanistan could lead to more violence: ISAF | Military to probe response to sex charges | US General David Petraeus to take CENTCOM helm for Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan | [...]
March 19th, 2009 at 12:21 am
[...] governor | Obama’s planned troop surge in Afghanistan could lead to more violence: ISAF | Military to probe response to sex charges | US General David Petraeus to take CENTCOM helm for Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan | [...]
April 24th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
[...] governor | Obama’s planned troop surge in Afghanistan could lead to more violence: ISAF | Military to probe response to sex charges | US General David Petraeus to take CENTCOM helm for Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan | [...]
May 13th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
[...] Military to probe response to sex charges | Don’t look, don’t tell, troops told in response to Afghani child [...]
May 15th, 2009 at 10:47 am
[...] governor | Obama’s planned troop surge in Afghanistan could lead to more violence: ISAF | Military to probe response to sex charges | US General David Petraeus to take CENTCOM helm for Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan | [...]
August 7th, 2009 at 11:51 am
[...] governor | Obama’s planned troop surge in Afghanistan could lead to more violence: ISAF | Military to probe response to sex charges | US General David Petraeus to take CENTCOM helm for Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan | [...]
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November 14th, 2009 at 6:58 am
[...] governor | Obama’s planned troop surge in Afghanistan could lead to more violence: ISAF | Military to probe response to sex charges | US General David Petraeus to take CENTCOM helm for Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan | [...]
November 14th, 2009 at 7:44 am
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