- Joined
- Mar 9, 2001
- Posts
- 36,917
- Likes
- 1,072
- Location
- Away from redneck country
- AFL Club
- Essendon
- Other Teams
- Bombers
Thread starter
#1
Klan-style photo deplorable: army chief
13:57 AEST Thu Nov 11 2004
The behaviour shown in a photograph of soldiers dressed in Ku Klux Klan-style hoods was deplorable and intolerable, the Chief of the Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy said on Thursday.
General Leahy said administrative action, namely further equity and diversity training, had been taken against the soldiers.
News Ltd newspapers on Thursday printed a photograph showing Australian soldiers dressed in Ku Klux Klan-style hoods gathered behind seated Aboriginal and other dark-skinned soldiers.
News Ltd also reported claims that a dark-skinned soldier had the armour removed from his flak jacket while serving in East Timor while others had offensive slogans written on their gear.
"On behalf of the Australian army, that photograph that appeared on the front page of a newspaper this morning is just deplorable," Lt Gen Leahy told reporters after a Remembrance Day ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.
"We are appalled by the behaviour that brought this photograph about.
"We're disgusted to think that soldiers can still think that behaviour of this intolerable nature, they can get away with.
"Where have they been whilst we've been training and dealing with matters of equity and diversity?
"This, particularly on a day like today (Remembrance Day), is totally unacceptable."
General Leahy said the army believed the soldiers involved thought it was just a prank.
"The consequences, though, are very, very serious," he said.
"What we've seen from the photographer and the soldiers involved was a bit like a school photograph and they thought at the end of the formal photographs, we'll have a fun one.
"Well, this one wasn't funny. They got it wrong and the consequences, whilst unintended, have been deplorable."
He said once the incident had become known through a complaint, an investigation was held, the soldiers had been held accountable and action had been taken against them.
"But more recently there's been another complaint and there's a current investigation to look at some other matters and we'll make sure that that investigation is done thoroughly.
©AAP 2004
13:57 AEST Thu Nov 11 2004
The behaviour shown in a photograph of soldiers dressed in Ku Klux Klan-style hoods was deplorable and intolerable, the Chief of the Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy said on Thursday.
General Leahy said administrative action, namely further equity and diversity training, had been taken against the soldiers.
News Ltd newspapers on Thursday printed a photograph showing Australian soldiers dressed in Ku Klux Klan-style hoods gathered behind seated Aboriginal and other dark-skinned soldiers.
News Ltd also reported claims that a dark-skinned soldier had the armour removed from his flak jacket while serving in East Timor while others had offensive slogans written on their gear.
"On behalf of the Australian army, that photograph that appeared on the front page of a newspaper this morning is just deplorable," Lt Gen Leahy told reporters after a Remembrance Day ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.
"We are appalled by the behaviour that brought this photograph about.
"We're disgusted to think that soldiers can still think that behaviour of this intolerable nature, they can get away with.
"Where have they been whilst we've been training and dealing with matters of equity and diversity?
"This, particularly on a day like today (Remembrance Day), is totally unacceptable."
General Leahy said the army believed the soldiers involved thought it was just a prank.
"The consequences, though, are very, very serious," he said.
"What we've seen from the photographer and the soldiers involved was a bit like a school photograph and they thought at the end of the formal photographs, we'll have a fun one.
"Well, this one wasn't funny. They got it wrong and the consequences, whilst unintended, have been deplorable."
He said once the incident had become known through a complaint, an investigation was held, the soldiers had been held accountable and action had been taken against them.
"But more recently there's been another complaint and there's a current investigation to look at some other matters and we'll make sure that that investigation is done thoroughly.
©AAP 2004

