T
the patriot
Guest
Thursday, November 16, 2000
Soldier fights sex ban
Peacekeeper charged with sexual encounter overseas
By PAUL COWAN -- Edmonton Sun
EDMONTON -- A city peacekeeper is citing the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to help him beat a charge of disobeying orders by having sex in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Cpl. J.N. Montgomery is arguing at a court martial being held at the Edmonton Garrison that the order forbidding peacekeepers from sexual activity in Bosnia-Herzegovina violates the charter‘s guarantees of freedom of expression, life, liberty and security of person.
But one of the chief of defence staff‘s most senior advisers on discipline, Chief Warrant Officer Maurice Dessurault, said lifting the sex ban at bases in Bosnia would be a nightmare.
"From the aspect of discipline and morale it would be a disaster - as much for the Canadian Forces as for the personnel involved," said Dessurault through a French interpreter.
"Sexual activity can create jealousy and the climate that creates could lead to violence."
He added this was especially likely on a "closed" base in potentially hostile territory where one gender considerably outnumbered the other.
Dessurault also argued the sex ban kept things stable on the home front.
He said if the sex ban was lifted, then spouses back in Canada would be worried about a "permissive atmosphere."
Dessurault said he agreed with the ban including married couples serving on the same base, even if their sexual activities were discreet.
"There cannot be double standards," he said. "The only time married couples could have sex according to the order was when they were on leave together outside Bosnia-Herzegovina or Croatia."
Dessurault said it was his feeling sexual activity in the field undermined "unit cohesion, discipline and morale."
His statement prompted a volley from defence lawyer Maj. Michael Gibson.
"In a past era the Canadian Forces had an official policy that discriminated against homosexuals. That has now changed, and the arguments which justified that policy were the same as you have just used," said Gibson.
"Yes," replied Dessurault.
Earlier, Department of National Defence director of military deployment policy, Karol Wenek, told judge Col. Guy Brais that guidelines on sexual activity respected the "natural right" of military personnel to form sexual relationships.
"Except when they threaten operational effectiveness, discipline and unit cohesion," added Wenek.
He said commanding officers had to be allowed to use their judgment on what threatened operational effectiveness.
Capt. Greg Strome said there were six married couples at the camp where the alleged offence took place, Camp Black Bear at Velika Kladusa, but none were allowed to live together on base.
The hearing continues today. Montgomery denies the charge of engaging in sexual activity.
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-the patriot-
Soldier fights sex ban
Peacekeeper charged with sexual encounter overseas
By PAUL COWAN -- Edmonton Sun
EDMONTON -- A city peacekeeper is citing the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to help him beat a charge of disobeying orders by having sex in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Cpl. J.N. Montgomery is arguing at a court martial being held at the Edmonton Garrison that the order forbidding peacekeepers from sexual activity in Bosnia-Herzegovina violates the charter‘s guarantees of freedom of expression, life, liberty and security of person.
But one of the chief of defence staff‘s most senior advisers on discipline, Chief Warrant Officer Maurice Dessurault, said lifting the sex ban at bases in Bosnia would be a nightmare.
"From the aspect of discipline and morale it would be a disaster - as much for the Canadian Forces as for the personnel involved," said Dessurault through a French interpreter.
"Sexual activity can create jealousy and the climate that creates could lead to violence."
He added this was especially likely on a "closed" base in potentially hostile territory where one gender considerably outnumbered the other.
Dessurault also argued the sex ban kept things stable on the home front.
He said if the sex ban was lifted, then spouses back in Canada would be worried about a "permissive atmosphere."
Dessurault said he agreed with the ban including married couples serving on the same base, even if their sexual activities were discreet.
"There cannot be double standards," he said. "The only time married couples could have sex according to the order was when they were on leave together outside Bosnia-Herzegovina or Croatia."
Dessurault said it was his feeling sexual activity in the field undermined "unit cohesion, discipline and morale."
His statement prompted a volley from defence lawyer Maj. Michael Gibson.
"In a past era the Canadian Forces had an official policy that discriminated against homosexuals. That has now changed, and the arguments which justified that policy were the same as you have just used," said Gibson.
"Yes," replied Dessurault.
Earlier, Department of National Defence director of military deployment policy, Karol Wenek, told judge Col. Guy Brais that guidelines on sexual activity respected the "natural right" of military personnel to form sexual relationships.
"Except when they threaten operational effectiveness, discipline and unit cohesion," added Wenek.
He said commanding officers had to be allowed to use their judgment on what threatened operational effectiveness.
Capt. Greg Strome said there were six married couples at the camp where the alleged offence took place, Camp Black Bear at Velika Kladusa, but none were allowed to live together on base.
The hearing continues today. Montgomery denies the charge of engaging in sexual activity.
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-the patriot-
