[E-rundbrief] Info 1475 - WILPF (USA) on US-Bombing at Kunduz (Afghanistan).

Matthias Reichl info at begegnungszentrum.at
Do Okt 15 21:48:52 CEST 2015


E-Rundbrief - Info 1475 - WILPF (USA): Statement of the Women's 
Intrnational League for Peace and Freedom (US-Section) on the horrific 
Bombing Attack by the United States of America Military Air Forces on 
the Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) Civilian 
Hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, on October 3, 2015.

Bad Ischl, 15.10.2015

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

================================================

Statement on Kunduz Bombing

STATEMENT OF THE WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM, 
UNITED STATES SECTION,

On the Horrific Bombing Attack by the United States of America 
Military Air Forces on the Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans 
Frontieres) Civilian Hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, on October 3, 2015

We, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, United 
States Section (WILPF US), condemn the United States of America's 
horrific bombing of the hospital of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning 
humanitarian organization, Doctors Without Borders, known in French as 
Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), in Kunduz, Afghanistan, on Saturday, 
October 3, 2015, that killed ten patients and twelve MSF staff and 
wounded many more patients;1 as of several days later, at least 
thirty-three additional people were still unaccounted for.2 The US 
version of the British newspaper, The Guardian, reports that, "Three 
children died in the airstrike that came in multiple waves and burned 
patients alive in their beds."3 WILPF US strongly condemns this 
carnage, in which civilians are the casualty, underscoring that war is 
not selective in its destruction of human lives.


Again, according to The Guardian, "The airstrike on the hospital is 
among the worst and most visible cases of civilian deaths caused by US 
forces during the 14-year Afghanistan war that Barack Obama has 
declared all but over."4  It was reported that the existence and 
location of the hospital was well known, and hospital personnel 
informed USA military forces that the hospital was being bombed, as it 
was happening, but public statements by the USA military have 
variously claimed the bombings to have been a "mistake" or "collateral 
damage" of war.5

WILPF US is also outraged that the destruction of a hospital, a safe 
space, with its staff and patients has been callously described as 
"collateral damage" by someone identified as "Colonel Brian Tribus, a 
spokesman for US-Forces Afghanistan."6


The 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention established specific protections for 
civilians and hospitals, from acts of war; calls are being made for 
action to be taken against the USA and our military under the 
provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and this article from The 
Guardian7 suggests that the USA and Afghanistan governments may have 
already made admissions of this act as a war crime.

We extend our solidarity to the families of all those who are missing, 
or injured, or who have been killed, to Médecins sans Frontières, and 
to the Afghan people, all victims of this war crime. We condemn this 
violence!


We, the members of WILPF US, join with others, including WILPF in 
England and others in the international community and Médecins sans 
Frontières, in recommending the following:

     Independent commission of inquiry be established in accord with 
the Geneva Conventions and under the impartial leadership of the 
International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC)8
     USA demonstrate good faith by making available all information 
pertinent to the bombing
     USA disarm and end all acts of aggression which escalate wars in 
the region
     USA government and military accept responsibility for the deaths 
of innocent civilians rather than define the action causing the deaths 
as "a mistake"
     USA recognize the humanity and dignity of the victims and their 
families rather than define them as "collateral damage"

___________________________

1 
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/06/doctors-without-borders-airstrike-afghanistan-us-account-changes-again 


2 
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/09/msf-33-people-still-missing-us-airstrike-afghan-hospital 


3-7 
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/06/doctors-without-borders-airstrike-afghanistan-us-account-changes-again 


8 
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/07/international-criminal-court-must-investigate-bombing-of-afghan-hospital 


PHOTO
Kathy Kelly and others protest the bombing of the hospital in Kunduz.
Photo: Upstate New York Coalition to Ground Drones & End the Wars.

http://wilpfus.org/news/updates/statement-kunduz-bombing

-- 

Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
Wolfgangerstr. 26, A-4820 Bad Ischl, Austria,
fon: +43 6132 24590, Informationen/ informations,
Impressum in: http://www.begegnungszentrum.at
Spenden-Konto Nr. 0600-970305 (Blz. 20314) Sparkasse Salzkammergut,
Geschäftsstelle Pfandl
IBAN: AT922031400600970305 BIC: SKBIAT21XXX

--

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Honoured by the (Austrian) "Journalism-Award from below 2010"






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