Happy New Year. A brilliant start to the year touching upon something fundamental to justice and the rule of law. Those of us who have been willing to criticise the human rights abuses of foreign armies must not flinch from this.
When I was in Australia last year, the press were covering the Australian enquiry into Afghanistan, which appeared to be ahead of us in facing up to what was done by some of our forces.
What may have occurred is not only a blot on our reputation but may partially explain why fewer Afghans were prepared to fight against the Taliban than the public expected. We must learn from this.
The enquiry may also show how open justice can be combined with conducting carefully circumscribed matters in private – which may well be necessary in some family proceedings, if people are not to be discouraged from seeking redress.
You remain required reading for all of us concerned with not only how the law works but why it matters. Have a good year.
I believe that Joshua is, as so VERY often, performing a public service of high value with this contribution. I say nothing directly about this latest material, save to say that it appears absolutely to support some of my worst fears from earlier writings on this general subject. Quite some time ago now I recall the robust public interventions of Nicholas Mercer, former senior soldier and, as I believe, still now cleric, on these concerns. When he then wrote, he deployed words such as orchestration in connection with the MOD’s delay and obfuscation concerning such allegations. At that time I had been unable to detect the least hint of hyperbole in his words and still less am I able to do so now. My humble appraisal then as now is that the Reverend Mercer had been doing his duty then with his unambiguous contributions, just as I view the inquiry under Sir Charles in a similar light. In all humility also I added my own thoughts in the public domain then, as I do again now. Delivery by the nation on the military covenant of which Lord Dannatt has so rightly spoken doubtless requires additional attention but as to the reported atrocities forming the backdrop to the Haddon-Cave Inquiry NEVER, EVER in our name.
Nicholas Mercer is clearly a very interesting man:
The Revd Nicholas Mercer became Rector of Bolton Abbey on 01 April 2019. He was previously the Rector of the Falkland Islands, a parish which includes South Georgia and the British Antarctic Territories, based at Christ Church Cathedral, Port Stanley, the southernmost Anglican cathedral in the world. Prior to this position he was Assistant Chaplain at Sherborne School, and previously served his curacy in Gillingham, Dorset. Nicholas was born in Yorkshire, graduated with a BD from St Andrews, and has subsequently gained LLM and MTh degrees from the universities of Cardiff and Oxford respectively. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1990, and in 1991 joined the Army Legal Services. He served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia Herzegovina, Germany, Iraq and Cyprus. His army experience included directing and prosecuting Courts-Martial, and he was also on the teaching staff of the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in San Remo, Italy. He was the Command Legal Advisor for the HQ 1st (UK) Armoured Division during the Iraq war in 2003. As a result of his stand against the inhuman and degrading treatment of Prisoners of War in Iraq, he was named as the Liberty Human Rights Lawyer of the Year 2011-2012. He has lectured extensively on the Law of Armed Conflict and Human Rights. Prior to his ordination, he retired from the Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Nicholas is married, with three children. His interests include music, fishing, shooting and ferrets. (Source: https://www.boltonpriory.org.uk/meet-the-team).
He was recently appointed honorary chaplain to the Inns of Court and City Yeomanry.
Indeed so, Joshua, and once more my thanks for the details about Mercer where, but for my imperfect memory, I would already have had those so creditable features at my fingertips. There are so many different kinds courage and honour to be identified over and above the vivid examples from the battlefield.
Happy New Year. A brilliant start to the year touching upon something fundamental to justice and the rule of law. Those of us who have been willing to criticise the human rights abuses of foreign armies must not flinch from this.
When I was in Australia last year, the press were covering the Australian enquiry into Afghanistan, which appeared to be ahead of us in facing up to what was done by some of our forces.
What may have occurred is not only a blot on our reputation but may partially explain why fewer Afghans were prepared to fight against the Taliban than the public expected. We must learn from this.
The enquiry may also show how open justice can be combined with conducting carefully circumscribed matters in private – which may well be necessary in some family proceedings, if people are not to be discouraged from seeking redress.
You remain required reading for all of us concerned with not only how the law works but why it matters. Have a good year.
Very kind of you to say so. Here's a link to the Australian report: https://www.defence.gov.au/about/reviews-inquiries/afghanistan-inquiry
I believe that Joshua is, as so VERY often, performing a public service of high value with this contribution. I say nothing directly about this latest material, save to say that it appears absolutely to support some of my worst fears from earlier writings on this general subject. Quite some time ago now I recall the robust public interventions of Nicholas Mercer, former senior soldier and, as I believe, still now cleric, on these concerns. When he then wrote, he deployed words such as orchestration in connection with the MOD’s delay and obfuscation concerning such allegations. At that time I had been unable to detect the least hint of hyperbole in his words and still less am I able to do so now. My humble appraisal then as now is that the Reverend Mercer had been doing his duty then with his unambiguous contributions, just as I view the inquiry under Sir Charles in a similar light. In all humility also I added my own thoughts in the public domain then, as I do again now. Delivery by the nation on the military covenant of which Lord Dannatt has so rightly spoken doubtless requires additional attention but as to the reported atrocities forming the backdrop to the Haddon-Cave Inquiry NEVER, EVER in our name.
Thank you, Malcolm.
Nicholas Mercer is clearly a very interesting man:
The Revd Nicholas Mercer became Rector of Bolton Abbey on 01 April 2019. He was previously the Rector of the Falkland Islands, a parish which includes South Georgia and the British Antarctic Territories, based at Christ Church Cathedral, Port Stanley, the southernmost Anglican cathedral in the world. Prior to this position he was Assistant Chaplain at Sherborne School, and previously served his curacy in Gillingham, Dorset. Nicholas was born in Yorkshire, graduated with a BD from St Andrews, and has subsequently gained LLM and MTh degrees from the universities of Cardiff and Oxford respectively. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1990, and in 1991 joined the Army Legal Services. He served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia Herzegovina, Germany, Iraq and Cyprus. His army experience included directing and prosecuting Courts-Martial, and he was also on the teaching staff of the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in San Remo, Italy. He was the Command Legal Advisor for the HQ 1st (UK) Armoured Division during the Iraq war in 2003. As a result of his stand against the inhuman and degrading treatment of Prisoners of War in Iraq, he was named as the Liberty Human Rights Lawyer of the Year 2011-2012. He has lectured extensively on the Law of Armed Conflict and Human Rights. Prior to his ordination, he retired from the Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Nicholas is married, with three children. His interests include music, fishing, shooting and ferrets. (Source: https://www.boltonpriory.org.uk/meet-the-team).
He was recently appointed honorary chaplain to the Inns of Court and City Yeomanry.
Indeed so, Joshua, and once more my thanks for the details about Mercer where, but for my imperfect memory, I would already have had those so creditable features at my fingertips. There are so many different kinds courage and honour to be identified over and above the vivid examples from the battlefield.