British military « The Celtic League

Posts Tagged ‘British military’

MOD Probed On Overseas Recruitment

Sunday, August 29th, 2010

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

MOD PROBED ON OVERSEAS RECRUITMENT

A career in the British Army is that unpopular these days that the UnitedKingdom increasingly rely on recruitment of Nationals from other countries.

The Celtic League has been engaged in correspondence with the UK MOD about recruitment of Nationals from the Republic of Ireland.

The Irish government have told us that it is not illegal for a National of that State to make an individual choice to join an overseas Army.

However Irish law, specifically Section 312 of the Defence Act, makes it an offence to encourage a person to join a foreign army. We believe the UK MOD are `sailing close to the wind’ in relation to recruitment in Ireland and our correspondence to tease out the truth goes on (see below).

“Mr Richard Hills
Headquarters
(British) Army Recruitment and training Division
Trenchard Lines
Upavon
Pewsey
Wiltshire SN9 6BE

28/0810

Dear Mr Hills,

I write with reference to the concern raised with you about the recruitment of Nationals of the Republic of Ireland into the British Armed Forces. I have your reply dated 3rd June 2010 (D/ARTD/1/3/1-75862).

You will recall that the specific point we raised with you was that it was an offence under the laws of Ireland to encourage a person to join a foreign army (Section 312 of the Defence Act 1954). The issue had been highlighted following the circulation of information about `opportunities’ for a career in the British army by a careers office in Ireland.

I am disappointed that you do not believe that your web site as currently structured, i.e. citing `citizenship’ of the Republic of Ireland as making
persons eligible for membership of the Armed Forces, could be construed as encouraging citizens of a neighbouring State through
either ignorance or ineptitude to break the laws of their country. However I am reassured by your comment that potential recruits should ensure they seek information `through a careers office in Britain’.

There is one outstanding issue that you could shed light on. I note from your website that applicants for the services could be subject to normal careers checks. I wondered how the MOD (British Army) are able to follow-up on any information supplied by an applicant from the Republic of Ireland without cross-referencing data supplied with individuals or agencies in that country. I do hope that the UK military have not been doing this as if they have done so it would appear that they are soliciting citizens of a neighbouring State to breach section 312 of the Defence Act 1954.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours Sincerely,

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information”

MOD Urged To Come Clean On Numbers killed By British Army

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

MOD URGED TO COME CLEAN ON NUMBERS KILLED BY BRITISH ARMY

The Celtic League has asked the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence for details of the numbers of civilians killed or injured by British Forces serving with ISAF in Afghanistan.

There is growing concern in the UK at present over the rising toll of casualties suffered by British Forces. However scant regard is paid to the many thousands of men, women and children killed and injured in ISAF operations. (See below):

“The Secretary of State for Defence
Dr Liam Fox MP
Ministry of Defence
Main Building
Whitehall
London, SW1A 2HB
United Kingdom

28/08/10

Dear Minister

Ref: British Forces serving with ISAF – civilian casualties.

Can you advise how many civilians in Afghanistan have been killed directly as a result of actions by British Forces serving with ISAF in Afghanistan since the mission began?

Could you also provide details of the total compensation paid directly by theBritish government or on behalf of the British government as a result of incidents in which innocent civilians have been killed by British forces acting alone or in conjunction with other ISAF forces?

Does the British government have any policy (either directly, via Afghan government agencies or NGOs) to follow-up on the circumstances of those innocent civilians injured and maimed as a result of incidents involving British Forces acting alone or in conjunction with other ISAF units?

Yours sincerely,

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information”

Link here to ISAF / NATO web pages which are noteworthy in failing to highlight
the heavy price being paid via death and injury of innocent Afghan civilians.
http://www.isaf.nato.int/

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League

28/08/10

TEL (UK)01624 877918 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609

Internet site at:

http://celticleague.net
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/

Tags: British military, Military Monitoring, MOD
Posted in News | No Comments »

Death of Schoolgirl Comes Back To Haunt British Army

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

DEATH OF SCHOOLGIRL COMES BACK TO HAUNT BRITISH ARMY

There is to be a meeting between Northern Ireland Office Minister Hugo Swire, the family of Majella O’Hare and Secretary of State Owen Paterson.

The meeting is to discuss the Historical Enquiries Team’s report into her death. The 12-year-old Co Armagh schoolgirl was shot by a soldier near her home at Whitecross in 1976.

The O’Hare killing aroused considerable concern at the time because of clear ambiguities in the account of the British army as to why shots had been fired. SDLP MLA Dominic Bradley said the HET report contradicts the Army’s story.

“The soldier and the Parachute Regiment maintained there was a gunman present in the area on that day and that he had fired shots at them and that the soldier had returned fire.

“But as the HET report clearly shows that was not the case,” Mr Bradley said.

“So the truth of Majella’s death needs to be acknowledged by the British government.”

A soldier, Private Michael Williams, was charged with manslaughter after an RUC investigation, but was acquitted in court.

Two weeks ago, the HET said it had sent a letter to Majella’s mother, regarding its findings and that the final copy of its report would be sent to her in “four to six weeks”.

An HET spokesman added: “The original RUC investigation found that Private Michael Williams was not returning fire at a gunman as he claimed and they recommended to prosecutors that he be charged with manslaughter.

The HET supports the findings of the original investigation. They also say the RUC investigation was thorough and good.

The killing of Majella also caused outrage and concern outside Ireland. On the Isle of Man her death led directly to the establishment of the `Anti-Militarist-Alliance’ (members of Mec Vannin and the Manx branch of the Celtic League). The AMA subsequently campaigned against the use of the Isle of Man for training purposes by the British Army and the base at Jurby providing rest and recuperation for troops from N. Ireland. Training exercises eventually ended and the base closed.

It is hoped that after waiting over thirty years the family of Majella O’Hare will get both justice and closure.

Report on the killing on relatives for justice website here:

http://www.relativesforjustice.com/majella-ohare.htm

Brief details on HET and its work here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_Enquiries_Team

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League

26/08/10

The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on
socio-economic issues.

TEL (UK)01624 877918 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609

Internet site at:

http://celticleague.net
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/

Tags: British military, Isle of Man, Majella O'Hare, Military Monitoring, schoolgirl
Posted in News | No Comments »

Bloody Sunday: Callous And Brutal Murder By The British Army

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

In the Autumn 1974 issue of CARN (Volume 1 Number 3) the Celtic League recorded as follows:

“The Human Cost

The Killing of 13 citizens of Derry by soldiers of the Paratroop Regiment on Bloody Sunday was described by the Derry Coroner (who had seen service in the forces of the Crown in World War II) as an act of callous and brutal murder.”

Almost forty years after the events of Bloody Sunday the simple straightforward assessment of the Coroner all these years ago has been confirmed.

There will be innumerable reports, assessments and comments. However the Celtic League believe the best point of reference is the report itself which can be found here:

http://report.bloody-sunday-inquiry.org/

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League

15/06/10

Tags: British military, Military Monitoring
Posted in News | No Comments »

STRANGE GOINGS ON AT CRIGGION 02-05-2001

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2001

Almost a year ago we directed a fairly straightforward enquiry to the British Ministry of Defence following an incident at the VLF Criggion installation on the Welsh /English border.

The facility, operated on behalf of the MOD by British Telecom, was sealed off in May 2000 following what appears to have been either an accident or sabotage at the facility.

Criggion is a large multi-array aerial complex which has a scarcelyconcealed role supporting communications with the British nuclear ballistic submarine fleet. It may also be involved in supporting the US ballistic missile submarine force.

Having unwittingly found itself in the news we thought it was a useful opportunity to make some pertinent queries about the potential health implications of the vast aerial array complex.

However, the MOD seem reluctant to talk about the base, its role or any harmful health spin-off from its operation. Two queries to the MOD Directorate of Safety. Environment and Fire Policy, eventually resulted in a reply saying that the matter had been passed to the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO). That was three months ago and since then nothing has been heard.

For a body which has a specific role connected with communications the DLO seems strangely uncommunicative. So what did go on at Criggion?

Bernard Moffatt

Celtic League 02/05/01

Tags: British military, Cymru, Wales
Posted in News | No Comments »