- Mr Mercer faces potential consequences for not providing witness statement names to an inquiry by April 5th, but he intends to challenge the order.
- The inquiry is investigating alleged civilian killings by British special forces in Afghanistan.
Veterans Minister Mr Mercer had until April 5th to submit a witness statement, including names, for an independent inquiry. He was warned of potential consequences, such as imprisonment or fines, for non-compliance, as communicated by the MP for Plymouth Moor View. Despite this, he stated his intention to challenge the order, adding that he would refrain from further comment, as noted in a post on X. A spokesperson for the inquiry confirmed receipt of his application, indicating it would be reviewed by the inquiry’s chairman, who would render a decision in due time.
Mr Mercer received a Section 21 notice under the Inquiries Act 2005 in the prior month. This directive mandated the disclosure of names, which the Independent Inquiry related to Afghanistan emphasized would be treated confidentially. He was given until April 3rd to provide written submissions explaining his belief in the order’s unreasonableness or his inability to comply.
The inquiry is probing allegations of civilian and unarmed individuals’ killings by British special forces during night raids in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2013. Despite intense exchanges with the inquiry’s counsel, Mr Mercer steadfastly withheld the identities of whistleblowers who had alerted him to the possibility of truth in the allegations of extrajudicial killings by special forces. Justifying his stance, he asserted during last month’s inquiry session, “The one thing you can hold on to is your integrity, and I will be doing that with these individuals.”Having served with a Special Boat Service (SBS) task force in Afghanistan from 2008 to 2009, Mr Mercer recounted receiving firsthand accounts from a serving SBS member. This individual disclosed being tasked with carrying a “drop weapon,” which Mr Mercer clarified as non-NATO weapons carried by UK Special Forces units to be planted on the body of a deceased individual during a mission, falsely suggesting the victim had posed a threat to British troops. Despite this revelation, Mr Mercer declined to disclose the SBS member’s identity to the inquiry.
The following study conducted by Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs says the ‘US War on Terror’ killed between 480,000 and 507,000 in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq post 9/11.
Bilmes estimates that the United States has allocated over $2 trillion for health care, disability, burial, and other expenses related to approximately 4 million Afghanistan and Iraq veterans.
