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The United Nations Special Rapporteuron extra judicial executions Philip Alston on Thursday expressed concern over civilians' killing in Afghanistan and urged all warring sides in the country to respect human rights.
IWPR, December 11, 2007: Residents of a southern village tell of a night of violence at the hands of foreign and Afghan soldiers. "They killed civilians - people like me - with rough farmers' hands. If you don't believe me, then come with me to the cemetery. I will dig up the bodies to show you."
Photo Gallery of US victims in Afghanistan
The Afghan Victim Memorial Project by Prof. Marc
"In the past four months, hundreds of civilians have been killed. They have died from bombs, missiles, explosive devices, police fire, beheadings and domestic violence," Alston said in a statement handed out at a news briefing here.
He put the responsibility for civilians' killing on militants, Afghan and international troops by saying, "Those responsible include the police, militia groups, the Taliban and other anti-government elements, and the international forces."
Around 200 civilians have been killed by Afghan forces and Afghanistan-based international troops and another 300 civilians killed by militants since beginning of 2008 in the war-ravaged country, according to the statement.
Alston also warned that, "In the absence of urgent action by all parties, the months and years ahead will see many more civilians killed unlawfully."
The UN special rapporteur also criticized the international forces in Afghanistan for paying little attention to human rights and hearing the victims.
In this regard, he said that in January 2008, two brothers were killed in a raid in Kandahar City of southern Afghanistan but no military commander was available to provide information on the subject. "I was unable to get any international military commander to even admit that their soldiers were involved," he noted.
The UN dignitary also accused Afghan police of involvement in extra-judicial execution and added that during talks with elders he received complaint that police killed a group of rival tribe arbitrary.
"In most parts of the country police are the face of the government. The legitimacy of government depends almost entirely on police behavior. If they maintain law and order for all, the government will have legitimacy," he stressed.
Furthermore, Alston expressed concern over the violence against women in Afghanistan and called on authorities to ensure their right in this conservative society.
In the statement, Alston recommended for police reform, strengthening Afghan Human Rights Commission, fighting corruption, establishing women referral centers, respecting principles of accountability by international troops based in Afghanistan and reforming criminal justice system to ensure human right in the war-torn land.