Posted on February 10, 2010
The death of an East Timorese woman, hit by an ADF vehicle in Dili on 18th December last year went unnoticed by the Australian Defence Force for almost two weeks because they failed to follow up on her condition, a Senate Inquiry heard today.
Under questioning from Senator Russell Trood, the Chief of the Australian Defence Force admitted to a lapse in ADF’s operational processes after revealing that although an ADF Health officer visited the hospital a few hours after the accident, no further measures were taken to make sure she recovered.
It is believed that the woman died from her injuries a short time after her admission, but the ADF were not informed of her death until the 1st January.
It is unclear whether the woman’s family have received any compensation.
Senator Russell Trood said he was horrified to hear that ADF took so little interest in the woman’s well-being.
“The ADF’s handling of this incident was plainly delinquent.
“Incidents involving civilians being adversely affected by Australian military presence should be treated with utmost sensitivity for many reasons.
“Not least of these is the fact that such callousness undermines the good work, reputation and integrity of the Australian Defence Force in East Timor, and elsewhere in the world.”
The Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Houston, also admitted that the ADF have not carried out a comprehensive inquiry into the incident, despite the fact that a similar episode involving an Afghani civilian in October, last year, prompted one.
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