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UK denies troop desertions linked to Iraq war

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, May 29, IRNA
UK-Troops-Iraq
The British government has denied that the desertion of more than 1,000 troops from the British military in the past three years is linked with the Iraq war.

Reports on Sunday said that 134 military personnel were still missing from 2001, 229 from 2004, 377 from 2005 and 189 so far from this year.

But the Ministry of Defence has insisted the "absent without leave" figures have remained constant and that those missing have to be court martialed before they could be found guilty of deserting.

Only one person has been found guilty of deserting since 1989.

"It often happens for family reasons and there is no evidence to suggest operational commitments contribute significantly to the figures," a defense spokeswoman said.

According to official figures, 2,670 soldiers went "absent without leave" in 2001, with the figure rising to 2,970 in 2002 and falling in 2003 to 2,825. In 2004 it rose to 3,050, falling back again in 2005 to 2,725.

Former defence minister Don Touhig told BBC Radio Five Live on Sunday that there were no "hard facts" to suggest the Iraq conflict was prompting increased numbers to leave the forces.

But Labour MP John McDonnell said that the number of absconders had trebled since the invasion with more soldiers "questioning the morality and legality of the occupation."

He insisted on Sunday that the numbers of British troops trying to absent themselves from service in Iraq were rising, adding that his understanding was that "there are a lot more seeking to avoid service through different mechanisms."

Justin Hugheston-Roberts, the solicitor for Flight Lieutenant Malcolm Kendall-Smith, who was convicted of refusing to go to Iraq, has also said that he had experience the numbers were rising.

"I am approached regularly by people who are seeking to absent themselves from service. There has been an increase, a definite upturn," Hugheston-Roberts said.

Military law expert Gilbert Blades, who represents soldiers at courts martial, also said the numbers leaving the services because of Iraq were often obscured as they were not counted as conscientious objectors.

"One can't help thinking that what's behind every absence is the problem in Iraq and I would think that if the real truth was told, then the Iraq problem has contributed to a huge number of people going absent," he told the BBC.

There is reported to be a lot of dissent in the Army about the legality of war and concerns the number of duties they have to spend.

But government ministers have continued to insist that the morale remains high among the some 8,000 servicemen still deployed in Iraq.

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