Tuesday, September 4, 2012

U.S. military promised to "fundamentally change" a system that has left some victims feel punished, but supporters fear

career Brian Lewis on U.S. soil Navy stopped after being raped on a higher. Marine commanders made it clear that Lewis sees the problem ask her attacker to justice, and was released as mentally unfit.

Olga Ferrer was in the Air Force when she was raped in the shower by an American army during the Gulf War against Iraq two decades ago. Again, the army turned against the victim.

"security police told me just go back to your tent and return to work the next day, I returned to my tent and thought. How can I return to work do not know So what's my rapist. could work with me every day. could talk to me, "he said.

"They tell you as a victim, you are the one who disrupts the unit, you evil unit -. Whether you are the one who must go"

then former army nurse who said a member of Congress during his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan were more afraid of being attacked by fellow what was the enemy.

All are among the veterans groups say there are thousands of former soldiers who have been sexually assaulted by their peers to discover that the army was more interested in the prevention of shame public punish the aggressors.

Now, under pressure from Congress, the Pentagon's promise to "fundamentally change" a system which, among other things, allows commanders to subordinates without legal training to act as investigator, judge and jury in cases of alleged rape.

Last year, more than 3,200 rapes and sexual assaults were reported in the U.S. Army, a slight increase over the previous year. The Department of Defense estimates that more than 19,000 reported.

veterans groups such as the services of the Women's Network of Action (Swan), say that this is partly due to a system in which the rape allegations were investigated by specialists in relation to sexual offenses, the military police or prosecutors, but commanders often more interested in preventing a stain on the reputation of his unit. Even if an agent refers to an offender guilty, he or she is free to impose a sentence relatively minor, rather than refer the case to a court martial, especially if the military is considered essential for the team.

Swan said sexual assault is treated with such contempt for the military one in ten of the accused are simply allowed to resign from service before charges can be laid, and can not be touched by the courts civilians.

When it comes to trial, approximately one third of those convicted are allowed to stay in the military.

"We continue to talk and talk and nothing ever changes"


political pressure on the issue has been around for years. Last month, Barack Obama spoke.

"The men and women of the U.S. military deserve an environment free from the threat of sexual assault, and that the allegations of sexual abuse are thoroughly investigated, offenders are held appropriately accountable and that victims receive the care and support they need, "the president said.

MP Bruce Braley, a member of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, said at a news conference Tuesday that military Swan does not take the matter seriously.

"I am very angry that we continue to talk and talk and nothing changes," he said.

Braley said he recently met with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, and the army chief, Gen. Ray Odierno, to press for action more urgent.

"Like most of these meetings, it was very informative and very polite, and nobody else in the room seemed angry. Because they were senior officials of the Armed Services Committee with we expected that the time had come and then I told them I was pissed because when they have the audacity to speak of a zero tolerance policy towards sexual harassment and violence in the army when they not even close to being there, I was pissed. And I told them that, "he said.

"I told my wife teaches in a secondary school in Waterloo, Iowa - a high school - and have a zero tolerance policy for students doing real tells a weapon in this school they will due process and you will be expelled. This is a zero tolerance policy. "

Another Congressman Chellie Pingree is also exasperated by the army.

"We met briefings, we know that the armed forces, and say: Oh yes, yes - we have a new policy, everything works," he said. "How can we let this happen to our soldiers and why it happened not admit why you're not there to judge the perpetrators? Received calls from people who said it happened to me in the Second World War. "

ignore their "privacy laws

Lewis was 20 years old and serves as a fire control technician against a warship when he was raped by another man of the sea, leaving traumatized and damage of the prostate. He went to inform a superior man. As the complaint up the chain of command, Lewis said he was met with increasing hostility.

"The command did not want to hear it. This was swept under the rug. Commander Reports are based on the fitness discipline under his command, and admit that you have a rapist in your boat n 'looks good, "he said.

Lewis said that instead, the commanders of the ship turned toward him. They did not deny that she was raped, but she tried to remove the container saying it had affected their discipline.

"was as follows:.? This person is a scandal how quickly the ship without harm us in the process said that I had behavioral problems and why it was rape. Justification to get rid of I. they ignore privacy laws. they told my mother that I had behavioral problems, and rape why, "he said.

Lewis said that when he returned home, the whole family knew she had been sexually assaulted by another man. Some male relatives avoid him, thinking that it was shameful or it could have been a willing participant.

She was recruited by the Air Force in 1988 and has experienced sexual harassment on several occasions, including a supervisor who was standing behind her while she was sitting at her desk and put his penis in his shoulder. She said that when she complained to his sergeant, said he was a troublemaker.


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