Afghan villagers get payments for battle that killed civilians

Posted by Philip Dru on 5/13/09 • Categorized as Afghanistan, Genocide, War of Terror

A government commission concluded that 140 civilians died, more than twice the figure cited by the United States.

Reporting from Farah City, Afghanistan — Turbaned elders and weather-beaten farmers trekked to this provincial capital today to accept reparation payments from a government commission that concluded 140 civilians were killed in a fierce battle last week between Taliban fighters and coalition troops.

If the figure arrived at by the commission is correct, it would make last week’s fatalities in rural Farah province the worst single episode of civilian casualties since the U.S.-led invasion more than seven years ago.

"This was an accident, and we offer condolences," provincial Gov. Rosul Amin told the somber, ragged assemblage of villagers. Relatives received about $2,000 for family members killed and $1,000 for those injured.

"It doesn’t make the pain in my heart go away," said Abdul Farahi, a trucker whose brother and two nephews were killed in what villagers and international observers have said was U.S. bombardment in the village of Garani. "We all have to leave this earth, but this cannot be explained."

The U.S. military has said it believes the number of civilians killed was much lower, in the neighborhood of 50. American officials acknowledge bombing the area, but say at least some of the deaths were caused by insurgents.

Twenty-five militants were also killed in the fighting, according to the commission, which was appointed by President Hamid Karzai.

Karzai, who visited Washington last week, has been sharply critical of foreign forces over repeated instances of civilian casualties. He has called for an end to airstrikes by Western troops, a demand that U.S. officials have rejected.

The challenges facing Western forces and the Karzai government were underscored today by a brazen insurgent attack on two government buildings in the eastern city of Khowst. At least six people were reported killed in synchronized suicide bombings outside the governor’s compound and a municipal building.

The assailants tried to overrun the governor’s compound but were driven back, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Zemery Bashary. U.S. and Afghan forces were searching the city for some attackers who got away, he said.

The Taliban, meanwhile, mocked the ousted commander in Afghanistan, U.S. Gen. David McKiernan, who was replaced a day earlier by Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal. The move was interpreted as reflecting the Obama administration’s dissatisfaction over the course of the conflict.

The abrupt change in command comes as more than 21,000 additional American troops have begun arriving in Afghanistan. Most will be deployed in the south, the center of the insurgency.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi, reached by telephone, said the decision showed that American officials knew they were losing the war.

Afghan officials said the appointment was an internal U.S. matter, but expressed hopes that it would bring about a reduction in civilian casualties.

Los Angeles Times | Laura King | Tuesday, May 12, 2009

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