(Image Source: YouTube)
BY EVAN BUSH
ANCHOR: LAUREN ZIMA
A total of eight US troops have been charged with crimes ranging from dereliction of duty to negligent homicide after an Army investigation into the death of a 19-year-old soldier in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan. Here’s some background from WNBC.
“Danny Chen was found shot to death in his barracks in October. The military told his family he might have committed suicide, but they weren’t sure. There might also have been foul play. They do know he was harassed for being Chinese.”
According to media reports, there are two theories: Chen either killed himself not in his barracks, but in a guard tower after persistent abuse and harassment or Chen was murdered by his fellow soldiers. Here’s The Washington Post.
“It was not clear from the information provided whether the military believes the soldiers actually killed Chen or whether officials are alleging that their mistreatment of Chen led him to take his own life.”
And CNN reports more changes against the other soldiers could be forthcoming.
“The charges stem from ‘conduct that occurred in the time leading up to [Chen’s] death,’ an Army official familiar with details of the investigation told CNN. … The Army official said the soldiers are essentially charged with hazing and abusing Chen in the weeks and days before he apparently killed himself. But the case remains open and other charges could be filed, the official said.”
The investigation’s ruling comes after pressure from Chen’s family and the Organization for Chinese Americans. The group recently held a candlelight vigil and rally for Chen, demanding answers about his death on December 15. 400 people attended. And as Wired reports, this is a controversial time for the military.
“The charges in Chen’s death come on the heels of a guilty verdict for the ringleader of the ‘Kill Team,’ a group of rogue soldiers in southern Afghanistan. Those soldiers were charged with murdering Afghans for sport, and assaulting soldiers in their unit who threatened to blow the whistle. But Chen’s friends and family have drawn a different analogy, comparing Chen to Pat Tillman, the ex-NFL player killed by friendly fire, whose death the Army covered up.”
His family’s suspicions seem to be supported by letters Chen sent to them from his military base. MSNBC reports the family read letters at the rally that Chen had sent during his time in the Army.
“‘Feb. 27, 2011: Since I am the only Chinese person here, everyone knows me by Chen,'" read his cousin Banny Chen. ‘They ask if I'm from China a few times a day ... They also call out my name Chen in a goat-like voice sometimes for no reason.’
‘People crack jokes about Chinese people all the time. I'm running out of jokes to come back at them.’”
The soldiers are being tried under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. USA Today reports the soldiers have been removed from duty, are under supervision, and will likely be prosecuted in Afghanistan.
