AFGHANISTAN: Amnesty International condemns the killing of civilians in south

[Henk Elegeert]

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http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=51223&SelectRegion=Asia&SelectCountry=AFGHANISTAN

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AFGHANISTAN: Amnesty International condemns the killing of civilians in
south


©  Amnesty International

KABUL, 19 Jan 2006 (IRIN) - Amnesty International (AI) on Wednesday
condemned a recent spate of civilian killings in southern Afghanistan,
calling on the government to take solid measures to investigate these
crimes and to bring those responsible to justice.

"Amnesty International condemns the recent wave of killings of civilians
in southern Afghanistan, notably the 16 January suicide bomb attack on
spectators at a sporting event in Spin Boldak, in southern Kandahar
province, killing at least 22 people and injuring 20 other," the rights
group said in a statement.

The groups and individuals carrying out indiscriminate attacks such as
that in Spin Boldak were criminals, the watchdog added, noting such
actions undermine any claim they might have in pursuing a legitimate cause.

The US-based group called upon the government of Afghan President Hamid
Karzai to take concrete measures to investigate these crimes and to
bring those responsible to justice, including those involved in the
planning and organising of such attacks, while maintaining full
compliance with international standards of fairness, AI said in a statement.

According to the United Nations, there has been a wave of 19 suicide
attacks over the past 12 months, including 13 in the past 10 weeks.

The attacks come at a time Washington is considering to cut back its
troop presence in the Central Asian state from more than 18,000 to
16,500 over the next few months. Members of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation (NATO), who have an Afghan peacekeeping force of almost
10,000 on the ground, are due to increase their numbers to 15,000 and
take over responsibilities from US forces in the restive southern parts
of the country.

AI urges armed groups to immediately cease all attacks against civilians
and indiscriminate attacks, and calls on community leaders who remain in
contact with the leadership of armed groups to speak out against such
attacks, ensuring that there can be no circumstances that allow or
justify war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Insecurity remains a key issue in post-Taliban Afghanistan. Despite the
deployment of thousands of US and NATO forces, at least 1,600 people
died in conflict-related violence last year. Ninety-one US troops died
in combat and through accidents in 2005, more than double the total for
2004.

[ENDS]
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