“Soldiers trained to deal with protesters”

Written by: Nick G. on 27 February 2023

(Above: Soldiers vs "protesters".   Photo source Contact   Photo by  Bombardier Guy Sadler)

The Australian Army continues to be trained for use against Australian citizens.

Last year we reported on the training exercises conducted by the 3rd Battalion (3RAR) in “population control and protection”. 

We explored in depth the history of the military application of population “protection” from its origin in the Spanish–Cuban Ten Years' War (1868-1878) through to the Army’s role in the racist NT Intervention.

We said that “increased focus on urban operations including population “protection” and control, should serve as a warning against complacency for Australians seeking changes of substance to the inequalities and injustices of capitalism, and the subordination of Australia to imperialist dictate and influence.”

We already have a highly militarised police force. The training of the army in civilian control provides an extra layer of state machinery in ensuring that capitalism is protected from those it exploits and oppresses.  

The current exercise is reported in the privately published Contact military newsletter under the heading Soldiers train to deal with protesters. Again, it involved the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), with the support of the 1st Military Police Battalion (1MP), at a camp outside Townsville.

According to the report, the course focused on soldiers’ individual PPC training “while ensuring the ready battle group met the qualifications required of the ADF’s contingency operational response element.” 

It included “soldiers with shields, unruly role players and snapping canines”. The unruly role players created “a realistic scenario of aggressive protesters designed to push the soldiers’ endurance threshold”. 

“Infantry sections integrated closely with military police arrest teams, detainee processing capabilities, and military working dogs to enhance security and crowd dispersion.”

These are descriptions of the Australian “Defence” Force being trained to suppress Australian citizens engaged in the democratic right of protest in the streets. 

Forewarned is indeed forearmed. 

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