I want to pick up the points that my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant) and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary made in the context of legality and illegality and about who constitutes the enemy, which is defined in clause 367. The Under-Secretary said that the enemy was anyone who fires at us and that desertion applies only if someone leaves a conflict. However, many thousands of people, including women and children, are killed in air raids. They would not be classified as enemies under the Bill or the Under-Secretary’s classification of anyone who fires at us. If a soldier discovers illegality—although it may be termed collateral damage—has not he a right to say that he wants to opt out of that, claim a conscientious objection and not be punished with life imprisonment?
Armed Forces Bill
Proceeding contribution from
Harry Cohen
(Labour)
in the House of Commons on Monday, 22 May 2006.
It occurred during Debate on bills on Armed Forces Bill.
Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
446 c1235 
Session
2005-06
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
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Timestamp
2024-04-21 20:07:56 +0100
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