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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: epicure who wrote (108617)	7/29/2003 12:51:09 AM
From: Jacob Snyder	Respond to of 281500

Report on SE Afghanistan, by Human Rights Watch, July 2003 hrw.org “Killing You is a Very Easy Thing For Us”: Excerpts: The report details specific accounts of the daily abuses suffered by Afghans: farmers in Paghman district in Kabul province staying awake at night in shifts to guard their property from thieving soldiers and police; bus and taxi drivers from Gardez in Paktia province being hijacked or beaten for not paying bribes to soldiers and police; people in Jalalabad being arbitrarily arrested by police or soldiers, accused of bogus crimes or “being a member of the Taliban,” and freed only after they or their family pay a ransom. It documents arbitrary arrests of and death threats against journalists by intelligence agents, police, and army officials, and detentions and intimidation of political opponents by government forces. It explains that many girls in areas such as Ghazni and Paghman are still unable go to school, and why women in areas such as Laghman fear attacks by local armed men if they speak about or promote women’s rights. Many prominent Afghan commanders, officials, and former mujahidin leaders, including officials in the Afghan ministry of defense, ministry of interior, and the intelligence agency, the Amniat-e Melli, are responsible for or are implicated in many of the abuses. Human Rights Watch believes that the situation leading to many of these violations was preventable, and that changes can be made to reduce ongoing violations of human rights. Most notably, past and current support for local forces by the U.S. government, along with support by Pakistani and Iranian government agencies, has done much to entrench the warlords responsible for the worst abuses. The United States and the international community, as major power brokers in Afghanistan, have put too little pressure on military leaders outside of Kabul to obey President Karzai’s authority, to uphold human rights standards, or to relinquish power. Their continued funding, joint operations, and fraternizing with warlords has sent, at best, mixed messages about their goals and intentions. Section headings in the report: Abuses Against Civilians by Police, Military Forces, and Former Fighters Arbitrary Arrests, Torture, Kidnapping, and Ransom Rape Rape of Girls and Women Rape of Boys Armed Robbery and Home Invasions Extortion and Beatings of Shopkeepers, and Taxi, Truck, and Bus Drivers Extortion of Taxi, Truck, and Bus Drivers Extortion of Shopkeepers and Other Individuals Illegal Seizure and Forcible Occupation of Land Effects on Returns of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons Attacks on Political Actors and Political Activities Attacks on Political Parties, their Members, and Leaders The Legacy of the Loya Jirga Threats and Arrests after the Loya Jirga The Chilling Effect of Political Intimidation Attacks on Others Who Criticize the Government Attacks on Women’s Rights Advocates Attacks on Media Press and Media Activity in Afghanistan Threats, Arrests, and Harassment Restrictions on Social Activities Denial of Basic Freedoms to Women and Girls A Note about Culture and Women’s Rights Basic International Legal Standards Specific Abuses of the Human Rights of Women and Girls Liberty of Movement The Right to Education Control of Women’s and Girls’ Dress The Right to Work