Deaths company linked to defence
Brendan Nicholson; 12/4/08
An Australian-Controlled company whose employees killed three Iraqi civilians in Iraq is employed by the Australian Defence Force to provide building materials for projects in Afghanistan. Unity Resources staff were involved in the shooting of two women, Marou Awanis and Geneva Jalal, in Baghdad in October, 2007 and in the slaying of 72-year-old university professor Kays Juma in March 2006. Professor Juma, an Australian permanent resident, spent much of his time in Baghdad with his Australian wife, Barbara. He was shot dead when he failed to stop at a checkpoint. The Seven Network reported last night that Unity Resources, run by former Australian soldiers, had been paid more than $750,000 for a series of defence contracts. The ADF responded that Unity Resources provided logistical support to Australian forces in Afghanistan and was not employed in a security role. Its task was to obtain and deliver construction materials.
Tags: Afghanistan, Australia, Mercenaries, Terrorism