REMEMBER THE THREE AUSTRALIAN DIGGERS MURDERED IN AFGHANISTAN

            Today on ANZAC Day, we commemorate all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served".

            We will remember 3 Australian Diggers who were killed by an Afghan Sergeant on August 29, 2012. We hope that justice will be carried out by putting the killer to death and we support the victims’ families to carry out the death sentence. 

   

Today we remember, Private Robert Poate, Sapper James Martin and Lance Corporal Stjepan Milosevic, all three men were deployed as part of the 3RAR Task Group. On the evening of the 29th of August 2012 at around 9.45pm (local time) at Patrol Base "Wahab" in the Baluchi Valley region in Uruzgan province, a rouge Afghan soldier in the Australian camp collected an assault rifle, took cover and fired about 30 rounds into a group of Australian's who were only about five metres away. Private Robert Poate age 23 from Canberra and Sapper James Martin age 21 from Perth were killed instantly. Lance Corporal Stjepan Milosevic age 40, a father of two from Brisbane died while being evacuated for medical treatment. Two other Australian soldiers were wounded in the "Insider Attack". Private Robert Poate and Sapper James Martin were on their first deployments to Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Stjepan Milosevic, "Milo" to his mates had previously served in Iraq in 2010 was also on his first deployment to Afghanistan. All three men were based at Brisbane's Gallipoli Barracks. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
"Lest We Forget"

[PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/VietnamVeteransMCSthAustChapter/photos/a.514717338641498/2728189153960961/?type=3&theater]

Families want death penalty to be carried out for Diggers’ assassin

Paul Maley

National Security Editor

@paul_maley

11:19PM April 23, 2020

The families of three Australian Diggers killed by a rogue Afghan National Army sergeant have pleaded with the Australian government to ensure the killer is not released as part of a historic peace deal that could see up to 5000 Taliban prisoners walk free.

Hugh Poate, whose son, Robert, was killed when Sergeant Hekmatullah opened fire on Australian soldiers in a so-called ‘’green-on-blue’’ attack in 2012, said he feared justice for his son’s murder could become a casualty of Trump administration peace negotiations with the Taliban.

Private Robert Poate, Lance Corporal Stjepan “Rick” Milosevic, 40, and Sapper James Martin, 21, were killed after Hekmatullah opened fire on them as they played cards at a forward operating base north of Australia’s main base at Tarin Kowt. Two other Australian soldiers were wounded in the attack.

As part of a deal being negotiated between Washington and the Taliban, the Afghan government is to release 5000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for 1000 Afghan security force prisoners.

 

Janny and Hugh Poate, parents of fallen soldier Robert Poate. Picture: AAPSource:AAP

Mr Poate said he feared Hekmatullah might be among those set free. “The Taliban have already indicated that they want their senior commanders who have been responsible for killings of infidels released, and he killed three,’’ he said.

He said Hekmatullah’s original sentence — death by hanging — was never carried out, elevating concern that Hekmatullah’s release was only a matter of time.

“I want this bastard to be hanged,’’ Mr Poate said. “We all do. That was the sentence, I want Afghan law to be carried out and it hasn’t. Why not is an open question to the minister.’’

 

Hekmatullah in uniform and armed. Picture: Supplied Source:Supplied

[PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.news.com.au/national/australian-defence-force-accused-of-ignoring-insider-attack-threat-from-taliban-sleeper-sergeant-hekmatullah-in-afghanistan/news-story/9a4257103d37d7ab3d339bfb781ef474]

[PHOTO SOURCE: http://teamuzunovmedia.blogspot.com/2013/09/officer-incompetence-in-afghanistan.html]

The hunt for Hekmatullah became the overriding priority for the Australian Defence Force in the aftermath of the killing.

Australia’s military and intelligence agencies feared that Hekma­tullah was headed for Pakistan, sparking a frantic race to get him before he crossed the border. Every SASR patrol in the country was tasked with killing or capturing the rogue gunman and every asset, such as helicopters and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance drones, was given over to the hunt.

Hekmatullah was arrested by Pakistan’s Inter­-Services Intelligence and held in detention for six months before being handed over to Afghan authorities.

An Afghan court sentenced him to death.

  

Suzanne Thomas (right), mother of fallen soldier James Martin and Kelly Walton, wife of fallen soldier Rick Milosevic. Picture: AAP Source: AAP

Kelly Walton, the partner of Lance Corporal Milosevic, said she spent seven years worrying that Hekmatullah would cheat justice. “Right from the time he was apprehended and not killed immediately, it has always been my fear that he will get out on a prisoner swap or some kind of agreement with the Taliban,’’ Ms Walton told The Australian.

“Really, the only assurance we can get is his execution.’’

  

Suzanne Thomas and her son Sapper James Martin who was murdered. Source: News Limited

Suzanne Thomas, the mother of Sapper Martin, said she too would like to see the death sentence carried out. “The sentence was considered and it was relevant and reasonable,’’ she said.

“A lot of the people there at the time would like to see it happen.’’

A spokeswoman for the ADF said the Australian government had received assurances from the Afghan government it was “fully seized’’ of the importance of keeping Hekmatullah locked up.

William Maley, of the Australian National University, said the prisoner swap clause had been foisted on the Afghan government by Washington and enjoyed little support in Kabul: “If Hekmatullah is ever released, it will be entirely the responsibility of the US.’’

INTERNET SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/VictimsFamiliesForTheDeathPenalty/posts/2741880229267259

https://www.facebook.com/theaustralian/posts/10151451716954978

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/families-want-death-penalty-to-be-carried-out-for-diggers-assassin/news-story/6a2dda950f43513c41b52375b685f7b1

 

The five Aussie Diggers ... Lance Corporal Stjepan Milosevic, 40, Sapper James Thomas Martin, 21, and Private Robert Poate, 23, Private Nathanael Galagher, 23, and Special Operations Task Group soldiers Lance Corporal Mervyn McDonald, 30. Picture: Gary Ramage. Source: News Limited

[PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.news.com.au/national/australian-defence-force-accused-of-ignoring-insider-attack-threat-from-taliban-sleeper-sergeant-hekmatullah-in-afghanistan/news-story/9a4257103d37d7ab3d339bfb781ef474]

THE CASE: On 28 August 2012, an Australian platoon of 24 soldiers travelled 23 kilometres north of Tarin Kowt to Wahab Patrol Base in Afghanistan to join an Afghan National Army ('ANA') outpost in Taliban territory. The mission was to engage in a 10 day mentor exercise with the ANA and to assist coordination with others in the region. On the evening of 29 August 2012, a single ANA soldier, Sergeant Hekmatullah, attacked the Australian soldiers while they were relaxing and playing cards. Hekmatullah fired from an M16-A2 assault rifle, fatally wounding Sapper James Martin aged 21, Private Robert Poate aged 23 and Lance Corporal Stjepan Milosevic aged 40 years, and injuring two others.

INTERNET SOURCE: https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=771142592251801;res=IELHSS

  Stjepan Milosevic, 40, a lance corporal from 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment serving with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment TG (3 RAR TG) was shot and killed by a member of the Afghan National Army on 30 August 2012.

  Robert Hugh Frederick Poate, 23, a private from 6 RAR serving with the 3 RAR Task Group was shot and killed by a member of the Afghan National Army on 30 August 2012.

  James Thomas Martin, 21, a sapper from the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment (2 CER) serving with the 3 RAR Task Group was shot and killed by a member of the Afghan National Army on 30 August 2012

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_Defence_Force_casualties_in_Afghanistan

OTHER LINKS:

http://victimsfamiliesforthedeathpenalty.blogspot.com/2016/04/daniel-robinson-on-why-his-stepfather.html

https://www.facebook.com/VictimsFamiliesForTheDeathPenalty/posts/1531665203622107