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The Use of Special Forces Act
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| Bernard_Oriel | Date: Thursday, 26 Jan 2012, 7:19 AM | Message # 1 |
 Colonel general
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| The Use of Special Forces Act
Worlds have the right to use special forces, this is an undoubtable fact, but certain rules must govern their use to assure the minimal loss of human life.
1. Use of Special Forces
It is suggested that Special Forces should be used moderately and where there is a need to do so.
A. Special Forces must respect all conventions regarding conflict between Imperial Worlds, as such they should avoid causing unnecessary harm to civilians.
B. Special Forces must under no circumstances intentionally fire lethal weapons on unarmed civilians, to do so forfeits all protections under this act.
C. Special Forces must not use destructive devices or indiscriminate weapons in areas where civlians are present, to do so forfeits all protections under this act.
D. Special Forces are otherwise to be given considerable latitude with their conduct.
E. Special Forces should refuse to commit any mass murder or act of terrorism and report orders to commit such atrocities to their superiors.
F. Special Forces operations must have a specific objective, target(s) or purpose (it is not appropriate to dispatch Special Forces with instructions to spread terror through violence, for example).
2. Rights of Special Forces Personnel
A. Special Forces, whether Military, Civil or Contracted must be in the uniform of the world or government they come so. Accordingly they will be given rights as "Prisoners of War" under the Prisoners of War Act so long as they have not committed any crime under this Act or any other gross misconduct against civilians.
B. As Special Forces may be used in times when war is undeclared between two parties, captured Special Forces may be held indefinately until their return is negotiated or a decade has passed. If captured during a declared war they should be repatriated afterwards with other prisoners of war.
C. Atrocities against civilians will be regarded as grounds to forfeit the protections of this act.
D. Special Forces have the right to expect to be given the option to surrender.
3. Use of Spies
A. The use of spies is heavily discouraged.
B. If spies are used at all, they must not be used to cause widespread damage to civilians or their property.
4. Rights regarding Spies
A. In donning the dress of a civilian, a spy has forfeited any rights of protection as a legitimate combatant.
B. Spies may be arrested, tried and punished according to local law as spies or domestic offenders.
C. Suspected spies may be deported to their home-world with no right of appeal.
D. Mission objectives for spies must be precise as with Special Forces.
5. Offences under this Act for Individuals
Offences carrying the death sentence
A. Giving or carrying out an order likely to cause or causing significant loss of civilian life.
B. Murder of unarmed civilians.
Offences carrying lesser sentences (up to life incarceration)
A. Accidental killing of a civilian or civlians by negligence.
B. Use of dangerous explosives in a civilian environment.
C. Issuing or executing an order likely to cause significant destruction to property.
D. Issuing negligent or vague special forces orders.
6. Offences under this Act for Members of the Empire (Governments of planets, non-Imperial governed sectors etc)
These Offences may be dealt with by the Defense Committee or escalated to the Senate or Ruling Council if the breach is particularly egregious.
- Ordering special forces operations likely or intended to cause the deaths of civilians.
- Giving vague orders which result in a significant loss of civilian life.
- Ordering the unwarranted destruction significant civilian property.
- Ordering a "state terrorism campaign"
Sanctions Available to the Defense Committee
A. Suspension of the right to conduct special forces operations (three months).
B. Suspension of the right to "freedom of movement" for the Military of the perpatrator (1 month, may "ground" a fleet to orbit of it's designated world, it's designated system or designated sector. Up to and including full removal of right to use hyperdrive for the time period). To be enforced by Imperial Political Officers.
C. Suspension of the right to Imperial Defense (3 months) a world may have it's right to Imperial Defense forfeited, thus it will no longer recieve the protection of the Empire (unless an Imperial officer makes the decision that circumstances are exceptional and require intervention).
D. Fine of up to 1,000,000 Credits.
In the event the Defense Council finds an action so repugnant to require further Sanction, it shall propose a motion of sanction to the Senate, 'standard' more serious sanctions shall be listed here:
A. Forfeiture of the right to conduct military operations.
B. Forfeiture of the right to make unsupervised defense procurement.
C. Forfeiture of the right to possess military forces.
D. Forfeiture of the right to govern (only in extreme circumstances should this option be used).
Decisions regarding sanctions made by the Defense Council may be appealed to the Imperial Senate. Decisions regarding sanctions made by the Senate may be appealed to the Procurator of Justice.
7. Implications
Proven deployment of special forces or spies to another world will be considered reasonable "casus belli".
8. Definitions
Special Forces: The term Special forces, or special operations forces are terms usually used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform. This should not be taken as meaning that special forces teams need to be military, civil agencies on some worlds may have "special forces" units. This broad definition also covers mercenaries in the employ of an Imperial Government. To be defined as "Special Forces" a unit must be uniformed with a uniform bearing the badge (of atleast 5cm by 5cm, and must be visible) of the world or government to which they are serving.
Spies: Agents of hostile governments (whether Military, Civil or Mercenary) tasked to commit acts of violence, sabotage or espionage on the behalf of a government or group.
State Terrorism Campaign: A mission ordering a sequence of attacks against civilians or civilian infrastructure.
9. Reach of this Act
This Act Governs only the use of special forces between members of the Empire (worlds, non-Imperial governed sectors, etc) and protections under this act do not extend to those found to be taking action agains the Imperial state, it's branches, agencies and officials. Furthermore, worlds are warned that to deploy special forces soldiers agains the Empire is to be considered a gross act of treason.
Bernard Oriel
Senator for the Planet of Vjun
1st Earl Malreaux (Second Creation)
Vjun Delegation to the Imperial Senate
Message edited by Bernard_Oriel - Friday, 27 Jan 2012, 11:03 PM |
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| Verence_Terrawin | Date: Friday, 27 Jan 2012, 5:02 AM | Message # 2 |
 Major general
Group: Users
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| An elegantly drafted Act Mr Oriel. I do believe it is good to have a framework governing the use of so called "Black Operations" within the Empire. The act is more efficiently worded than the failed "Covert Operations and Operatives on a Planetary Scale Act" and ensures a strong level of protection for citizens of the Empire.
I am very concerned that "special forces raids" such as those on Dantooine have had their legitimacy asserted, but how can an operation be legitimate if it opens fire on civilians with chaingun blasters? This Act clarifies where the line between "acceptable" military conflict and terrorism lies.
Alsakan, while voting In Favour of this act urges worlds to remember that violence must always be a last option, and hope this act makes it clear what the consequences for indiscriminate slaughter are within the Empire.
Verence Terrawin
Senator of Alsakan
First Lord of the Foreign Office, Alsakan
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| Senator_Cambrist | Date: Friday, 27 Jan 2012, 9:53 AM | Message # 3 |
 Lieutenant general
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| I agree with Senator Terrawin. I find no fault in this legislation and Brentaal votes in favor of it.
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| Avram_Kirkwood | Date: Friday, 27 Jan 2012, 10:59 PM | Message # 4 |
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| Could I get some clarification from Senator Oriel on Article two, section A; what do you define as uniform of government? While I understand you make a definition of uniform in the later part of the bill, special forces often, be it our Imperial Army Special Forces or those of any one of the various local governments, are required to wear civilian garments for some missions or operations.
The Honorable Avram W. Kirkwood
Senator of the Cygnus Star Empire
General, Imperial Army (Ret.)
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| Bernard_Oriel | Date: Friday, 27 Jan 2012, 11:10 PM | Message # 5 |
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Colonel general
Group: Users
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| Well a uniform is defined as: "An issued set of clothes worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity."
As per the provisions of the act, this may be either a uniform in the formal sense of a normal "military" uniform, there has been a provision inserted to cover less well equipped "provincial" world special forces (where formal uniforms may not be affordable) in which case they are mandated to have their planetary or military symbol visible and at least 5cm by 5cm.
However, it is completely inappropriate for "special forces" to participate in clandestine operations in civilian garb if they have access to uniform. If they are assigned as bodyguards to an individual and just happen to be from a special forces unit, naturally this is a different situation as they are clearly legally sound by being bodyguards.
But if you are saying "Shouldn't special forces be able to dress as civilians, land on other worlds and kill people while still having the rights of normal combatants?" then the answer is no. If clandestine activities are enacted by a man out of uniform, then he should be considered what he is, a criminal at worst and a spy at best. As such he should be subject to the due process of law.
Bernard Oriel
Senator for the Planet of Vjun
1st Earl Malreaux (Second Creation)
Vjun Delegation to the Imperial Senate
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| Avram_Kirkwood | Date: Friday, 27 Jan 2012, 11:19 PM | Message # 6 |
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Lieutenant
Group: Users
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| Senator Oriel, perhaps I am merely ignorant, but I was unaware of clandestine operations being outlawed, thus far, in the Empire.
The Honorable Avram W. Kirkwood
Senator of the Cygnus Star Empire
General, Imperial Army (Ret.)
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| Bernard_Oriel | Date: Friday, 27 Jan 2012, 11:24 PM | Message # 7 |
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Colonel general
Group: Users
Messages: 803
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| They are outlawed by most if not all member worlds (it would be an infringement of their rights for the Senate to attempt such a policy), ergo under current laws "special forces", "spies" etc are simply treated as criminals in most places. This act serves to offer protections to combatants in uniforms in exchange for them being bound to not commit wanton murder of civilians etc.
Bernard Oriel
Senator for the Planet of Vjun
1st Earl Malreaux (Second Creation)
Vjun Delegation to the Imperial Senate
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| LomenRyuun | Date: Saturday, 28 Jan 2012, 8:33 AM | Message # 8 |
 Lieutenant general
Group: Users
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| Well done, Senator Oriel, very well done. Druckenwell is in favor.
Lomen Ryuun
Senator, Doldur Sector
Senator, Druckenwell
Representative, Monor II (10 BBY - 9 BBY)
Representative, Geridard
Representative, Boranall
Representative, Therenor Prime
Vice-chairman, Defense Committee (Temporarily suspended)
Controlling Shareholder - Druckenwell Arms Corporation
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| Eli_Fitzgerald | Date: Sunday, 29 Jan 2012, 11:55 AM | Message # 9 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 355
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| Ralltiir also votes in favor.
Eli Fitzgerald
Senator of Ralltiir (10 BBY—Present)
"I was elected to do some flamethrowing in the Senate. To a light a fire under those Senators and make it hot for them."
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| Exar_Ray | Date: Sunday, 29 Jan 2012, 3:26 PM | Message # 10 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 353
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| Dantooine votes in favor.
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| Slai-Fon | Date: Sunday, 29 Jan 2012, 6:32 PM | Message # 11 |
 Colonel
Group: Users
Messages: 160
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| Clandestine operatives aren't necessarily a bad thing, however the use of them against other planet's could cause a... coup d'état...
I vote In Favor
Slai-Fon Youngblood, Senator of Anobis, and the Bright Jewel sector
Chairman of ISEC (Imperial Senate Ethic's Committee.)
Chairman & CEO of K/Y deep.
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| Mr_Goodchild | Date: Sunday, 29 Jan 2012, 11:15 PM | Message # 12 |
 Lieutenant colonel
Group: Users
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| The Cronese Mandate employes various Clandestine groups all organized under the Cronese Mandate Office of Strategic Services.
The Cronese Mandate votes in favor
Mr. Goodchild
Minister of State
Representative of the Cronese Mandate
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| Sate_Pestage | Date: Tuesday, 31 Jan 2012, 1:25 AM | Message # 13 |
 Lieutenant general
Group: Moderators
Messages: 639
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| The measure passes unanimously.
Sate Pestage
Grand Vizier of the Empire
Assistant to Emperor Palpatine
Chair of the Imperial Senate
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