IMPUNITY IN THE MILITARY

Early day motion 1449, tabled 23 January 2006 by Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour Party). Signed by 55 members.

That this House welcomes the growing consensus that defence of the international rule of law requires maintenance of the strictest standards for military and enforcement agencies at all levels of the chain of command; deplores those regimes that routinely permit those found guilty of serious crimes to evade justice or resume their military careers after a short sentence; believes that a culture of impunity inevitably erodes military discipline and undermines any peacekeeping role the military is required to undertake; further believes that the armed forces should be an example in this regard and should ensure its disciplinary system is beyond criticism; and urges the Government to affirm that human rights abusers, killers, rapists and bullies are permanently excluded from military service and to restore the certainty that any member of the armed services having been convicted by a court of the most serious of crimes such as murder, rape or torture shall be dismissed from service and may not resume a service career.

Signatures by party: Labour 33, Liberal Democrat 15, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Conservative 1, Respect 1.