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| November 9, 2001 | Friday | Shaba’an 22, 1422 |
UN demands inquiry into civilian losses
ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: The United Nations on Thursday called for an enquiry to ascertain whether indiscriminate and excessive force being used by the US-led forces in Afghanistan is leading to loss of civilian lives and violation of humanitarian law.
“The international coalition needs to review the conduct of military operations so as to strictly comply with international humanitarian law and to demonstrate that these operations are not directed against the Afghan people,” a UN spokesperson said.
Speaking at a news conference here on Thursday, the spokesperson said that a report, prepared by UN special rapporteur of the commission on human rights on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Kamal Hossain, made an impassioned plea for immediately taking appropriate measures to prevent damage to civilian lives and property and disruption to the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
The report has been transmitted to the members attending the 56th session of the UN General Assembly as an addendum to the interim report on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. The report is listed as agenda item 119(c) for discussion in the 56 session.
According to a copy of the report, also made available to journalists, the intensity of the aerial bombardment and the targeting of cities, since Oct 7, have led to large-scale evacuation from urban areas and to the loss of civilian lives including those of women and children and their sources of livelihood.
A proper enquiry is needed to ascertain whether there has been compliance with the requirements of international humanitarian law which prohibits indiscriminate and excessive use of force and casts an obligation to exercize due care to prevent injury to civilian lives and property, the report states.
Calling for the restoration of a unified Afghanistan to all its people as agreed by the international community, the report recommends that United Nations must invite active participation of the people in building consensus and working together for national reconstruction, shaping institutions and structures of governance and formulating a framework of rules to ensure transparency and accountability and respect for human rights.
“There is a widely-shared expectation that the United nations can play a vital role in facilitating a transition from war to peace and in enabling the Afghan people to involve themselves actively in an inclusive participatory process through which a comprehensive political plan could be devised and implemented.”
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