UK: New law could hand out life sentences for Iraq deserters

[One Honest Guy]

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article548953.ece

By Colin Brown, Deputy Political Editor
Published: 20 May 2006

Soldiers who refuse to serve in Iraq could face life imprisonment under controversial plans to reform the existing system of courts martial.

Campaigners for justice in the armed forces claimed yesterday that the Government was clamping down on dissent because of the growing opposition to the war. Flight-Lieutenant Malcolm Kendall-Smith was jailed for eight months by a court martial for refusing to serve in Iraq, but campaigners said the Armed Forces Bill will open so-called "refuseniks" to a life sentence.

Section 8 of the Bill makes it clear that a soldier commits an offence if he deserts by going absent without leave permanently, or to avoid any particular service in the armed forces.

The punishment for some forms of desertion - such as going AWOL for a short time while not trying to avoid service - is currently limited to a maximum of two years' imprisonment. But the Bill specifically states that those going AWOL to avoid serving during a military occupation, as in Iraq, could be jailed for life.