[A-List] Scotland: NATO traffic calming exercise

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Apology by Nato on roadblock blunder
MARTIN WILLIAMS
The Herald, September 24 2003

NATO has issued an apology after civilians were forced to stop their cars at
gunpoint by Ukrainian troops in a military training exercise in south-west
Scotland.

One of the cars contained children, and the local MP has called for an
inquiry.

Drivers using a public road in Wigtownshire were forced to stop at a
checkpoint by troops taking part in a mock terrorist hunt involving an
amphibious landing at Luce Bay.
Two Ukrainian marines ordered a number of vehicles on a coastal road near
Port William to pull over at the roadblock.

Civilians were unaware there was a Nato exercise in the area. The driver of
the first car to be stopped, which had the children, said they were left
deeply distressed by the incident.

More than 8000 troops, Navy and RAF personnel from 12 Nato countries are in
Scotland for the exercise which started last week and will finish on Friday.
The force training off the west coast comprises 50 ships and submarines, 15
fighter aircraft, and numerous helicopters.

Major John Pulman, the Nato exercise commander, confirmed complaints had
been made and a full review of what happened was under way.

"I think in this case we had a situation where we had some troops that were
unfamiliar with their surroundings and possibly became over-zealous in their
application of what they were required to do," Major Pulman said.

Lieutenant Commander Katrine Wreford, a Nato spokeswoman, said the
organisation had learned a lot of lessons from the events, which took place
on Saturday morning. She said that after landing, the troops had to move
inland, searching for supposed terrorists in the area. "They were briefed in
advance not to engage civilians, but a small group of Ukrainian marines did
set up a road block and stopped a small number of cars as part of the
search," she said.

"Royal Military Police present during the exercise to ensure its smooth
running became aware of this and dealt with it immediately.

"We have not been able to contact the civilians involved, but we apologise
to them sincerely. I can imagine that if you are out on a rambling country
lane and are confronted with troops, it could be a distressing experience."

She stressed that the troops did not have live rounds in their guns. "This
is the first time the Ukrainian troops have participated in a Nato
exercise." She said they were "very concerned at the distress they have
caused".

Alex Fergusson, the MSP for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale, said the incident
was unacceptable and called for a full investigation.

Exercise Northern Lights 03 is part of several planned operations by the new
Nato response force, which is expected to be operational by October 2004. It
aims to test the operational capability of participating forces in
responding to a crisis.

The operation will allow the military to test a series of new projects such
as a nuclear, biological and chemical response team, a mobile laboratory and
an underwater vehicle designed for mine counter measures that could be
deployed as part of the new force.