Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) demonstrated in a more than impressive way this week how science and technology can advance the cause of human rights. Using forensic analysis and satellite imagery, they did an excellent job in documenting a war crime—and the subsequent US supported cover-up—in Afghanistan, where in the wake of the US led invasion in 2001 hundreds of prisoners of war were killed by a US backed warlord and dumped in a mass grave in Dasht-e-Leili. Check out this must see video:
In 2002, PHR investigators discovered the presence of a mass grave site in Dasht-e-Leili, outside of the city of Sheberghan in northern Afghanistan. The grave site is reported to contain anywhere from hundreds to thousands of Taliban prisoners of war. Forensic analysis suggests that most of the prisoners died from suffocation. They reportedly died while inside closed metal shipping containers.
Upon returning to the site in 2008, Stefan Schmitt, Director of PHR’s International Forensic Program, noticed that the mass grave might have been tampered with. To gather additional evidence, PHR requested satellite imagery from the area, which showed two sizeable pits, compromising the original area. The satellite imagery obtained by the AAAS indicated that there was earth-moving equipment present on August 5, 2006 along with one of two new pits. Later imagery on October 24, 2007, revealed the second pit in the same location as the earth-moving equipment from August 5.
The Bush Administration discouraged any attempts to investigate the episode, as the warlord suspected of committing the crimes, Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, was on the C.I.A.’s payroll, while his militia worked alongside the United States Special Forces in 2001. The Department of State has urged the Obama administration to oppose Gen. Dostum’s reappointment in the Afghani government; however the president has yet to take action on this issue.
As we still wait for the President to ensure accountability for past human rights violations of the Bush administration, this is another test of Obama’s commitment to human rights. It will be interesting to see if the administration fully investigates the 2001 killings in Afghanistan, at a time when Obama is sending an additional 21,000 more troops to battle the increasing Taliban insurgency. A first response by Obama to PHR’s work seems at least promising.
US air base in Bagram, Afghanistan. (c) Digital Globe 2009. Screenshot taken from Google Earth
Detainees held in the U.S. military detention center at Bagram Air Base are in the middle of a conundrum over their legal rights. Human rights campaigners argue that the prisoners should be provided with the same rights as those being held in the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The United States military, however, argues that they deserve different treatment since they are held in a current war zone. In Bagram, detainees are informed about the reason for their arrest, and are offered the ability to defend themselves without outside legal counsel at six-month military review sessions.
To protest their lack of legal representation, the detainees themselves have begun protesting, refusing privileges such as recreation time and family visits in order to obtain access to lawyers or independent reviews. The prisoners further refuse to leave their cells to shower or exercise. The prison wide protest started on July 1 and only became public recently through the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The U.S. detention facility in Bagram is even more closed off to the public than Guantanmo Bay. The Washington Post has more background information on the expanding detention facility.
Through this image, along with aerial photographs displaying the devastation in the so called “safe zone”, we want to offer the public a rare opportunity to see on the ground details in a country where journalists and international monitors are widely prohibited from documenting the results of the recent military showdown. Graves, shelters and a shipwreck are among the things visible on the aerial photographs. We have combined all this information in a Google Earth Layer (recent version of Google Earth required), in order to give activists around the world access – something the government of Sri Lanka is denying us so far– and to call for accountability for the crimes committed by both the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers. (Many thanks to AAAS and Ogle Earth for their help in putting this project together).
Satellite image and photograph of Menik Farm. (c) AIUSA, Screenshot taken from Google Earth
U.N. emergency relief coordinator John Holmes recently described IDP camps in Sri Lanka as “internment camps”, stating that people are not allowed to move freely in and out. The people in Menik Farm are being vetted by the government to determine if there are any links to the Tamil Tigers.
We continue to closely to monitor the situation on the ground, so stay tuned for further information.
Myanmar's Insein Prison, where Auung San Suu Kyi and hundreds of others are held (c) Digital Globe 2008. Image taken from Google Earth
Myanmar’s opposition leader and Nobel prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi has been brought to the country’s infamous Insein (pronounced “insane”) prison, to face trial on May 18. The prison has been described as the “darkest hell-hole in Burma” and houses many of the country’s more than 2,100 political prisoners. Just recently, after years of campaigning by Amnesty International, Mah Khin Khin Leh has been released from there.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s transfer to Insein prison has sparked international outcry, led by Amnesty International activists. The UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana, made the following statement yesterday : “I call on the government of Myanmar [Burma] to release Aung San Suu Kyi and her aides unconditionally”.
The BBC has a good report summarizing the events of the last few days.
Before and After: Right image (May 10) shows significant removal of IDP shelters compared to left image (May 6). Copyright 2009 DigitalGlobe.
New satellite imagery analysis released by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) offers a glimpse on Sri Lanka’s northeastern war zone. The analysis – initially requested by Amnesty International USA and Human Rights Watch – compares two images from May 6 and May 10, 2009, in order to produce additional evidence on the recent attacks. It “reveals evidence of probable artillery shelling as well as major population displacement”, according to a press release by AAAS. The images show numerous possible shell impact craters and destroyed houses. The most visible feature of the image comparison is the removal of thousands of likely IDP shelters from the central part of the so-called “Safe Zone” between May 6 and May 10. The image analysis shows several new possible shell craters primarily in the area of removed IDP structures.
This image shows apparent impact craters in the “Safe Zone” on May 10, 2009, which were not present in the May 6 image. Copyright 2009 DigitalGlobe.
Over the weekend, more than 400 people – including more than 100 children – are reported to have been killed in a two-day bombardment of the 2 square kilometre area designated as a “Safe Zone” by the Sri Lankan army. Both sides have been accused of the attacks, with neither side taking responsibility. It is hard to determine who actually shelled the area, let alone the exact death toll or number of civilians in harm’s way, because journalists and outside organizations, except for the International Committee of the Red Cross, are not allowed in the area. As a result, this has been dubbed a “war without witnesses“. On Sunday, the government deported a British news team, further weakening the transparency.
Despite calls from the UN to halt the bloodshed and protect civilians, reports today claimed that a school in the area that was converted to a makeshift hospital has been shelled, killing 47 and wounding more than 50. The hospital was housing many of the wounded from this weekend’s attacks. Many of those injured over the weekend were scheduled to be evacuated by the International Committee of the Red Cross today, as food and medical supplies are scarce, but this was unable to happen due to the continuation of heavy artillery fighting. In recent weeks, almost 200,000 civilians have fled the L.T.T.E. controlled area. The L.T.T.E must ensure that those civilians remaining in the area are protected, provided with basic necessities, and given the option to leave. In addition, the Sri Lankan government must end indiscriminate attacks on civilians and allow aid agencies and independent observers – including journalists – into the region so that the crisis is portrayed in a transparent way and those responsible for human rights violations can be held accountable.
Within the northern and southern sections of the Civilian Safe Zone (CSZ), there are new indications of building destruction and damages resulting from shelling and possible air strikes. (…) An additional 5 permanent buildings within the CSZ have been destroyed between 29 March & 19 April bringing the total estimate within the CSZ to approximately 60 main buildings destroyed. This count does not include potential damages to or destruction of IDP tent shelters. (…) Over five thousand of IDP shelters were relocated within the CSZ during April under pressure from increased shelling and military operations along the western sections of the CSZ. The approximate area of IDP settlement has further shifted eastward towards the coastline and south into the areas of heavy shelling between the villages of Karaiyamullivaikal and Vellamullivaikal.
Over the last few months, both the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government have been violating the laws of war. The Tamil Tigers have used civilians trapped in the conflict zone as a buffer against government forces. The Sri Lankan military has reportedly used heavy artillery despite the presence of a large civilian population in the conflict zone.
Despite a pledge by the government to stop using heavy weaponry, there was continued shelling on 28 April with 204 injured civilians admitted to a health facility in the hamlet of Mullivakkal, according to medical staff. Of these, 29 patients subsequently died.
Satellite images show the expansion of IDP camps in Sri Lanka (c) UNOSAT
Recent satellite images from the UN agency UNOSAT offer a glimpse of the drama currently unfolding in Sri Lanka. As the images show, IDPs that arrived in late February and early March were forced to set up their tents in areas previously avoided by fleeing civilians. They sought shelter on wetlands prone to flooding and along the beach within 200 meters of the coastline. Now they are caught up in the fighting.
Alertnet just put out a useful Q & A on the current sitation of civilians suffering in Sri Lanka’s civil war.
I can only repeat what our Sri Lanka country specialist posted earlier:
If you haven’t already written the Sri Lankan government and the Tigers, please visit the AIUSA website and do so today. We need every voice. Thanks.
“Now I don’t have a house. The weather is nice and I can sleep in the garden, but I don’t know what to do when the rain comes. Nobody is helping me.” A former teacher, Kazbek Djiloev, shared his hardship with us a few months ago as he stood before the ruins of his home in Tskhinvali. His house was one of many that were shelled during the recent Georgia-Russia conflict.
We captured this man’s story as an example of how such a military clash impacts civilians. He echoes the voices of thousands more civilian victims, many of whom are unable to return to their previous lives. Stories like Kazbek’s provide a human face to the evidence, including satellite imagery, which demonstrates the effect of the conflict on civilians.
Three months after the fighting broke out, 20,000 Georgians are still unable to return home because their homes were destroyed by rockets, looting and torching. Don’t forget them and their stories when you go home for the holidays this year.
Amnesty International works to protect human rights worldwide. We have more than 2.2 million supporters, activists and volunteers in over 150 countries, and are completely independent from government, corporate or national interests.
Learn more about us at AmnestyUSA.org »
Elise Auerbach is the Iran and Jordan country specialist for Amnesty International USA. See all »
