On May 13 the Special Air Service (SAS), a special forces unit of the British army, and the Royal Navy’s elite special forces regiment, the Special Boat Service (SBS) came under fire from their own veteran members who described colleagues committing international war crimes in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Former veterans gave examples of barbarity the news media. One former colleague describes another’s action as: ‘They handcuffed a young boy and shot him. He was clearly a child, not even close to fighting age.’ A veteran of the SBS also said: ‘I saw the quietest guys switch, show serious psychopathic traits. They were lawless. They felt untouchable.’ Other information which was provided were testimonials from over 30 people who were said to have served with or alongside British Special Forces added to the reporting of extrajudicial killings by the SAS.
“In addition, other eyewitnesses said the SAS and SBS members would attempt to cover up killings by planting drop weapons on dead bodies to make it look as if they were armed in photos taken by special forces from the scenes of operations.
“In Occupied Ireland, we are all too familiar with extrajudicial killings by the SAS. This testimony can be corroborated by those families that continue to seek justice from the British government for its sanctioned shoot-to-kill policy against Irish Republicans. Their loved ones were murdered without any attempt being made to arrest them.
“Instead of the British government doing what’s right they have for countless years ensured the British army continue its shoot-to-kill policy. Specifically, within the special forces (SAS), which refers to a code of silence and a reluctance to cooperate with external authorities, even when faced with wrongdoing or evidence of misconduct. This culture of silence has hindered investigations, obstructive of justice, and continues to protect individuals who have committed cold-blooded murder.
“Steadily this code of silence is falling apart! What we are witnessing is high ranking veterans like George Simms, a former Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) in the British army who wore the winged dagger for 23 years and who has broken the SAS code and gone public in support of individuals like Soldier M who served 34 years in the SAS while for 20 years he has been fighting a legal process over his actions and as part of an SAS squad that killed four members of the IRA’s East Tyrone ‘brigade’ in 1992.
“Today, the latest attempt to protect the old boys comes in the form of a petition. This effort has been brought forward by the highest ever ranking person: Brigadier Ian Liles OBE, a British army mercenary for 37 years and deployed in Occupied Ireland during Operation Banner.
“On May 2 he called on the British Government to not make any changes to legislation that would allow veterans to be prosecuted. Furthermore, he suggests it’s for doing their duty in combating ‘terrorism’ while soldiers are being hounded over split-second decisions made half a century ago.”
CRÍOCH/ENDS
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