UN details atrocities committed over 23 years of conflict in Afghanistan

http://www.rawa.org/un-sayyaf.htm

UN details atrocities committed over 23 years of conflict in
Afghanistan
"Before the Afshar massacre of Shia civilians in 1993, jihadi
leader Abdul Rasool Sayyaf told his officers, "Don't leave
anyone alive -- kill all of them."

A controversial UN report that has been shelved for 18 months
names and shames leading Afghan politicians and officials
accused of orchestrating massacres, torture, mass rape and other
war crimes.

The 220-page report by the UN high commissioner for human rights
details atrocities committed by communist, mujahidin, Soviet and
Taliban fighters over 23 years of conflict. Originally scheduled
for release in January last year, the report's publication has
been delayed repeatedly due to sensitivities over identifying
former warlords still in positions of power.

"The UN has been intimidated. It is afraid to rock the boat
because of these guys," said Sam Zarifi of Human Rights Watch.
"But the boat is taking on water and they are going to pull it
down."

Debate over the role of former warlords has grown more heated
since anti-foreigner riots rocked Kabul two weeks ago, casting
clouds that days after the riots President Hamid Karzai
appointed 13 former commanders with links to drugs smuggling,
organized crime and illegal militias to senior positions in the
police force. The names were inserted at the last minute into a
list of 86 police chiefs that had been selected by US, German
and Afghan officers as part of a drive to professionalize the
corrupt force.

The most controversial appointment is that of the new Kabul
police chief, Amanullah Guzar. Ranked 202 in a list of 270
candidates, Guzar was appointed by Karzai in place of a
candidate ranked 12th. Documents circulating among diplomats
allegedly link him to extortion, land grabbing and the
kidnapping of three UN workers in late 2004.

Speaking at Kabul police headquarters, Guzar said, "President
Karzai appointed me and he knows all about my past. Let anyone
with allegations bring them to court."

A European official said the 13 appointments had strained
Karzai's relationship with foreign donors and further eroded his
credibility with ordinary Afghans.

"This is not acceptable to us. If we let people who have
committed human rights abuses and economic crimes slip through,
Afghans are going to start asking what we are doing here," he
said.
--
The shepherd always tries to persuade
the sheep that their interests and
his own are the same. --Stendhal







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