Kabul, 24 May 2006

AIHRC expresses serious concern on re-occurrence of civilian casualties, especially of children and women during Coalition military operation against terrorist positions in Kandahar Province

 As a result of joint military operation by the Government and Coalition forces in Panjwayi District, Kandahar Province on 21 and 22 May, sixteen civilians including children, women, and the elderly have lost their lives in Azizi Village of the District. In addition, some have been injured and a number of families have abandoned their residential areas and thus have become displaced. 

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) hereby expresses its sympathy with the victims and relatives of those martyred in the incident, and calls on the Government and Coalition to seriously investigate into the civilian casualties, make public its results, provide compensation, and conduct necessary measures to prevent the re-occurrence of such an incident, in order to maintain popular trust. 

While the Commission regards an increase in the scale of security measures and military operations to combat terrorist attacks and sabotage acts by the enemies of Afghanistan as imperative for the countrys peace and stability, it urges the Government to take serious measures to ensure non-re-occurrence of civilian casualties in military operations against terrorists. 

The AIHRC further calls on the Coalition and NATO in Afghanistan to take increased, effective security measures to prevent terrorist attacks, while restricting civilian casualties in the operations.