By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
An Australian Defence Force inquiry into a trespass incident involving peace activists at Swan Island has recommended changes to procedures to avoid adverse publicity.
Four activists who attended an annual Swan Island Peace Convergence protest last year claimed they were hooded, had clothes removed with knives, were cuffed with cable ties, assaulted and threatened with anal rape with a stick and drowning when they were captured by soldiers.
The privately conducted inquiry’s partly redacted report exonerated three soldiers involved in the arrest of the activists.
“However, the blindfolding of arrested persons and the removal of clothing by members of the SIAD, while justifiable in the circumstances, has the potential to provide uninformed comment and criticism to be levelled at Defence,” the report said.
“Regardless of the appropriateness of any response to the incursion of the Swan Island Training Facility perimeter, a perception may exist that the response from ADF members was ‘heavy handed’.”
The report said standard operating procedures should be changed to “mitigate against adverse publicity risks”.
The inquiry found that on the balance of probabilities, the allegations of mistreatment made by the activists were unsubstantiated.
The report said two of the four arrested activists fled when soldiers approached the group, with a search taking an hour to locate them.
It confirmed that soldiers were only alerted to the trespassing activists because one soldier was listening to radio station 3AW and heard an interview with one of the trespassers.
The report said procedures regarding powers of search needed to be tightened because it left soldiers and the Department of Defence exposed to possible litigation.
One of the activists, Greg Rolles, said the report was another example in a long history of the ADF’s inability to investigate itself with impartiality.
“The report contains contradictions, misrepresentations, and outright falsehoods,” Mr Rolles said.
“Contrary to claims in the report, none of the protesters displayed any resistance, physical or otherwise.
“We are trained and prepared for rough handling and arrest.”
Mr Rolles said Victoria Police arrested four other protesters without mistreatment.
“Since there was no difference in the circumstances, appearance, behaviour or demeanour between the two groups, it is clear the only difference was the overreaction of ADF members.”
Mr Rolles said three of the activists were pursuing legal action against the ADF members for assault and battery.
