[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
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fon: +43 6132 24590, Informationen/ informations,
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