Soldiers Win Human Rights Protection?
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Soldiers Win Human Rights Protection?
Hushy Tue May 19, 2009 4:58 pm
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The enemy within: How MoD fails
*Ten soldiers died when their aircraft crashed after being fired on in Baghdad in 2005. David Masters, the Wiltshire coroner, criticised the MoD because fuel tanks were not fitted with "explosive suppressant foam"
*Two Royal Navy submariners died in 2007, trapped when an oxygen generator exploded. Sunderland coroner Derek Winter criticised failures possibly due to cost-cutting
*Sergeant Steve Roberts, 33, was shot dead in Iraq in 2003 for what Oxfordshire coroner Andrew Walker called an inexcusable shortage of body armour
*Paratrooper Captain James Philippson, 29, was killed in 2006 in Afghanistan after what Oxford coroner Andrew Walker said was an unforgivable breach of trust for not heeding requests for night vision kits
*Two Irish Guards died after their vehicle exploded in Iraq in 2007. Wiltshire coroner David Masters demanded a spending review after hearing more heavily protected vehicles were not available
*Lance Corporal Sean Tansey, 26, was killed in Afghanistan in 2006 when he was crushed servicing a vehicle not equipped with "skidding" planks, to cushion any falls
*Thirteen personnel were killed when their Nimrod spy plane exploded over Afghanistan in 2006. Oxford assistant deputy coroner Andrew Walker said the entire fleet was "unsafe to fly"
Britain's armed forces were facing a crisis yesterday after a High Court ruling that soldiers should receive the full protection of the Human Rights Act even when they are on the battlefield.
Judges rejected a government appeal against extending the Act to service personnel overseas and declared that "right to life" enshrined in the law meant the Ministry of Defence could be held legally liable if it failed to provide suitable equipment and medical care in combat situations.
The Government said the development would pose severe problems in conducting combat operations abroad and is likely to cause friction with allies and signalled that it was likely to appeal to the House of Lords.
Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said " we are surprised and disappointed by this judgement.... It potentially has very serious implications for the ability of our forces – and those of our allies – to conduct military operations abroad.
"We are studying the judgement's implications... and considering whether to appeal to the House of Lords..."
*****
What do we think? Do we need to guarantee our troops will be looked after and their human rights upheld ... or is this impossible in a war situation? Do you think the Army are right to want to appeal this decision? Or do you think their objections are mainly based around funds?
WYO?
The enemy within: How MoD fails
*Ten soldiers died when their aircraft crashed after being fired on in Baghdad in 2005. David Masters, the Wiltshire coroner, criticised the MoD because fuel tanks were not fitted with "explosive suppressant foam"
*Two Royal Navy submariners died in 2007, trapped when an oxygen generator exploded. Sunderland coroner Derek Winter criticised failures possibly due to cost-cutting
*Sergeant Steve Roberts, 33, was shot dead in Iraq in 2003 for what Oxfordshire coroner Andrew Walker called an inexcusable shortage of body armour
*Paratrooper Captain James Philippson, 29, was killed in 2006 in Afghanistan after what Oxford coroner Andrew Walker said was an unforgivable breach of trust for not heeding requests for night vision kits
*Two Irish Guards died after their vehicle exploded in Iraq in 2007. Wiltshire coroner David Masters demanded a spending review after hearing more heavily protected vehicles were not available
*Lance Corporal Sean Tansey, 26, was killed in Afghanistan in 2006 when he was crushed servicing a vehicle not equipped with "skidding" planks, to cushion any falls
*Thirteen personnel were killed when their Nimrod spy plane exploded over Afghanistan in 2006. Oxford assistant deputy coroner Andrew Walker said the entire fleet was "unsafe to fly"
Britain's armed forces were facing a crisis yesterday after a High Court ruling that soldiers should receive the full protection of the Human Rights Act even when they are on the battlefield.
Judges rejected a government appeal against extending the Act to service personnel overseas and declared that "right to life" enshrined in the law meant the Ministry of Defence could be held legally liable if it failed to provide suitable equipment and medical care in combat situations.
The Government said the development would pose severe problems in conducting combat operations abroad and is likely to cause friction with allies and signalled that it was likely to appeal to the House of Lords.
Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said " we are surprised and disappointed by this judgement.... It potentially has very serious implications for the ability of our forces – and those of our allies – to conduct military operations abroad.
"We are studying the judgement's implications... and considering whether to appeal to the House of Lords..."
*****
What do we think? Do we need to guarantee our troops will be looked after and their human rights upheld ... or is this impossible in a war situation? Do you think the Army are right to want to appeal this decision? Or do you think their objections are mainly based around funds?
WYO?
Hushy- Admin
- Posts : 26
Join date : 2009-05-19
Location : Edinburgh, Scotland -
Re: Soldiers Win Human Rights Protection?
Cadiva Tue May 19, 2009 5:45 pm
I think they have the same rights to safety in the workplace in so far as they should be fully equipped and have the right gear for the job they're expected to be doing. I don't, however, think they can realistically expect a "safe" environment given the fact they may be in a war zone.
I think the number of deaths due to lack of equipment or under funding for essential repairs is absolutely outrageous and in those cases, yes the soldiers basic human rights to expect to be as safe as they possibly can be in a dangerous situation, has been breached.
I think the number of deaths due to lack of equipment or under funding for essential repairs is absolutely outrageous and in those cases, yes the soldiers basic human rights to expect to be as safe as they possibly can be in a dangerous situation, has been breached.
Cadiva- Posts : 118
Join date : 2009-05-04
Age : 54
Location : Yorkshire
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