Post by vgp on Mar 28, 2008 15:48:43 GMT 12
Six NZ soldiers facing court martial
By MICHAEL FIELD - Fairfax Media | Friday, 28 March 2008
Six New Zealand soldiers have been pulled out of Afghanistan to face court marital for alleged drug use at their base, the Defence Force says.
Describing them as “junior personnel” they were part of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Bamyan Province.
The statement said they allegedly used a Class B drug at the base.
The army says the drug involved was hashish.
In the civilian world a conviction of possession of a Class B drug can attract a sentence of up to six months imprisonment.
The six will be disciplined if they are found to have used drugs. Disciplinary action may result in a punishment being imposed pursuant to the Armed Forces Discipline Act, including a fine, a period in the Services Correction Facility or dismissal from the NZDF.
Army Land Component Commander, Brigadier Dave Gawn said a thorough investigation into the allegations was conducted which had resulted in the six being remanded for court martial.
“There is no tolerance for the use of drugs by service personnel whether under instruction, training or on operations,” he said in a statement.
“Such behaviour undermines the security, stability and reconstruction achievements of the more than 1200 NZDF personnel who have served in Bamyan since 2003.”
The 107 strong PRT has been working in Bamyan since 2003.
Ninety percent of the world’s illegal opium is grown in Afghanistan, much of it under the control of the Taliban.
www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4455390a10.html
NZ soldiers face court martial over alleged hashish use
Six soldiers have been shipped out of Afghanistan back to New Zealand to face drug charges at a court martial.
The New Zealand Defence Force said the six members from the Provincial Reconstruction Team contingent in Afghanistan had returned to New Zealand on remand for trial by court martial for alleged drug use.
In an in depth Listener investigation, due out tomorrow, Qantas award winning journalist David Fisher reveals the six junior personnel are alleged to have used the Class B drug hashish, at the PRT base in Bamyan Province.
The Bamyan Province lies on a main route for drugs being trafficked through the Hindu Kush mountain range and out of Afghanistan.
He also describes how Kiwi troops seized drug shipments and burnt them outside their NZ army barracks, despite an unofficial policy to leave the drug shipments alone.
NZ Army Land Component Commander Brigadier Dave Gawn said a thorough investigation into the allegations resulted in the charges being laid.
"There is no tolerance for the use of drugs by service personnel whether under instruction, training or on operations. Such behaviour undermines the security, stability and reconstruction achievements of the more than 1200 NZDF personnel who have served in Bamyan since 2003," Brig Gawn said.
The six accused were flown back earlier this month under the guard of five military police, who had been sent to Bamyan to investigate the drug allegations.
The six will be disciplined if they are found to have used drugs.
Disciplinary action might result in a fine, jail sentence or dismissal.
The army said as the matter was sub judice it would make no further comment.
The 107-strong reconstruction team is tasked with assisting in security and reconstruction in Bamyan Province.
The NZDF has a low level of drug abuse. Only one percent test positive in random drug tests.
www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=32&objectid=10500681
Soldiers face drug charges
Six New Zealand soldiers are being sent home from Afghanistan to face drug charges at a court martial.
The junior personnel are alleged to have used Class B drugs while based in the Bamyan Province.
It's understood the drug involved is hashish, although the army is declining to give specific details of the case.
The soldiers were part of the Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Land Component Commander, Brigadier Dave Gawn, says there is no tolerance for drug use.
He says it undermines the security and stability of work carried out by the army in the region since 2003.
If found guilty, the group could be fined, sentenced to a term at the Services Correction Facility or dismissed from the service.
The government is saying little about the drug use allegations against the soldiers.
A spokesman in Defence Minister Phil Goff's office says as the matter is before a military court and subjudice, it would be inappropriate for the Minister to discuss it.
tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1667871
By MICHAEL FIELD - Fairfax Media | Friday, 28 March 2008
Six New Zealand soldiers have been pulled out of Afghanistan to face court marital for alleged drug use at their base, the Defence Force says.
Describing them as “junior personnel” they were part of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Bamyan Province.
The statement said they allegedly used a Class B drug at the base.
The army says the drug involved was hashish.
In the civilian world a conviction of possession of a Class B drug can attract a sentence of up to six months imprisonment.
The six will be disciplined if they are found to have used drugs. Disciplinary action may result in a punishment being imposed pursuant to the Armed Forces Discipline Act, including a fine, a period in the Services Correction Facility or dismissal from the NZDF.
Army Land Component Commander, Brigadier Dave Gawn said a thorough investigation into the allegations was conducted which had resulted in the six being remanded for court martial.
“There is no tolerance for the use of drugs by service personnel whether under instruction, training or on operations,” he said in a statement.
“Such behaviour undermines the security, stability and reconstruction achievements of the more than 1200 NZDF personnel who have served in Bamyan since 2003.”
The 107 strong PRT has been working in Bamyan since 2003.
Ninety percent of the world’s illegal opium is grown in Afghanistan, much of it under the control of the Taliban.
www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4455390a10.html
NZ soldiers face court martial over alleged hashish use
Six soldiers have been shipped out of Afghanistan back to New Zealand to face drug charges at a court martial.
The New Zealand Defence Force said the six members from the Provincial Reconstruction Team contingent in Afghanistan had returned to New Zealand on remand for trial by court martial for alleged drug use.
In an in depth Listener investigation, due out tomorrow, Qantas award winning journalist David Fisher reveals the six junior personnel are alleged to have used the Class B drug hashish, at the PRT base in Bamyan Province.
The Bamyan Province lies on a main route for drugs being trafficked through the Hindu Kush mountain range and out of Afghanistan.
He also describes how Kiwi troops seized drug shipments and burnt them outside their NZ army barracks, despite an unofficial policy to leave the drug shipments alone.
NZ Army Land Component Commander Brigadier Dave Gawn said a thorough investigation into the allegations resulted in the charges being laid.
"There is no tolerance for the use of drugs by service personnel whether under instruction, training or on operations. Such behaviour undermines the security, stability and reconstruction achievements of the more than 1200 NZDF personnel who have served in Bamyan since 2003," Brig Gawn said.
The six accused were flown back earlier this month under the guard of five military police, who had been sent to Bamyan to investigate the drug allegations.
The six will be disciplined if they are found to have used drugs.
Disciplinary action might result in a fine, jail sentence or dismissal.
The army said as the matter was sub judice it would make no further comment.
The 107-strong reconstruction team is tasked with assisting in security and reconstruction in Bamyan Province.
The NZDF has a low level of drug abuse. Only one percent test positive in random drug tests.
www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=32&objectid=10500681
Soldiers face drug charges
Six New Zealand soldiers are being sent home from Afghanistan to face drug charges at a court martial.
The junior personnel are alleged to have used Class B drugs while based in the Bamyan Province.
It's understood the drug involved is hashish, although the army is declining to give specific details of the case.
The soldiers were part of the Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Land Component Commander, Brigadier Dave Gawn, says there is no tolerance for drug use.
He says it undermines the security and stability of work carried out by the army in the region since 2003.
If found guilty, the group could be fined, sentenced to a term at the Services Correction Facility or dismissed from the service.
The government is saying little about the drug use allegations against the soldiers.
A spokesman in Defence Minister Phil Goff's office says as the matter is before a military court and subjudice, it would be inappropriate for the Minister to discuss it.
tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1667871
