Fed: Sailors the subject of government lies and mistreatment
A retired navy chief says navy sailors have been the subject of lies and mistreatmentby the Australian government.
Retired Vice Admiral Sir RICHARD PEEK has told a Senate inquiry that draconian lawsgag defence force personnel from telling the truth and allow the government to spin-doctorstories.
His claims -- at the inquiry into the children overboard affair -- come as Prime MinisterJOHN HOWARD accuses the Senate inquiry of trying to damage and embarrass the government.
Mr HOWARD says the hearing has achieved no success in revealing new information --and says it's done little more than tie up the time of large numbers of defence forceofficers.
Sir RICHARD says most people in Canberra knew the government's claims asylum seekershad tossed children into the sea were false by mid-October -- but the government did nothingto try and correct the information.
He says navy sailors are splendid people commanded by responsible officers -- and ithurts him to see them treated the way they have been.
AAP RTV sm/daw/rp
KEYWORD: BOAT (CANBERRA)
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