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ISLAMABAD: AI calls for probe into attacks on civilians

By Our Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD, Oct 28: Amnesty International has called for an immediate and thorough investigations into attacks on civilian targets, in view of the concern raised by the reports from UN officials, relief workers, NGOs and fleeing refugees, says an AI press release.

The AI called on the US military to ensure that civilians were not killed in their airstrikes and bombings, to investigate reports of such incidents and make public their findings. It also called for a moratorium on the use of cluster bombs.

“Every civilian victim of the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan adds to years of killings, repression, displacement and hunger. The human cost of the conflict continues to mount and increasing reports of civilian casualties allegedly arising from US-led military action are a cause for grave concern,” AI said.

“US officials have admitted that a number of civilian targets have been hit mistakenly, however the lack of public information on such attacks is disturbing.”

It is not possible to independently verify reported civilian deaths because of the limited access to Afghanistan of impartial observers.

AI has asked the US to investigate a number of attacks, including the air attack on 12 October on the village of Khorum, where civilians were reportedly killed, and on 16 October on International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), warehouses in Kabul injuring one Afghan civilian. Another attack on ICRC compound took place later.

Secretary of Defence Rumsfeld indicated that radio station was hit because it is a “propaganda vehicles for the Taliban leadership”.

Taking an exception to Rumsfeld’s views, AI said it considers civilian radio and television stations to be civilian objects even when they are “propaganda vehicles”.

The US-led forces should take precautions to protect civilians in selecting military targets and means of attack. They should also desist from an attack if it becomes clear that the objective is not a military one.

The AI expressed concern on the use of cluster bombs close to civilian areas and called for an immediate moratorium on their use.

Cluster bombs present risk of violating prohibition of indiscriminate attack, because of the wide area covered by the numerous bombs released. At least 5 per cent do not explode on impact becoming de facto anti-personnel mines and remain a continued threat to people, including civilians on the move, who come into contact with them.

The UN office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that cluster bombs were dropped over a village near Herat. The village was littered with unexploded bombs restricting the movement of local people.

“If cluster bombs continue to be used, civilians will not only suffer now but for years to come,” AI warned.

AI has called on Taliban to take immediate action to prevent and repress serious violations of humanitarian law. Following a statement by Al-Qaeda spokesman Sulayman Abu Ghaith, stating that his group will not distinguish between civilians and military targets.

AI urged Taliban to ascertain whether Al-Qaeda or other forces fighting alongside them have carried out or are planning to carry out direct attacks on civilians.

Any such attack would be a grave breach of international humanitarian law, Amnesty said.