QILLA JHANGI : UNTOLD STORY OF A MASSACRE

A Northern alliance fighter cuts away the tie around a dead pro-Taliban prisoner's arm, in a field covered with bodies of pro-Taliban forces in a fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001. Several hundred pro-Taliban prisoners were killed during three days of fighting which involved British and U.S. special forces. Circumstances behind arm being tied unknown. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
 

Afghanistan: Amnesty International dismayed at UK rejection of inquiry

AI Index: ASA 11/038/2001
Publish date: 30/11/2001

Amnesty International is dismayed that the United Kingdom has rejected calls for an urgent inquiry into the deaths of prisoners and others in Qala-i-Jhangi.

"The rejection of an inquiry by the United Kingdom into what is apparently the single most bloody incident of the war, during which serious abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law may have been committed, raises questions about their commitment to the rule of law," Amnesty International said.

"It gives cause for concern regarding the fate of other current and future prisoners in Afghanistan. If abuses have been committed, denying an inquiry would give a green light to further abuses and perpetuate the culture of impunity already inflicted on Afghanistan."

Amnesty International has led calls for an inquiry into the deaths in Qala-i-Jhangi, specifically into what triggered this violent incident, including any shortcomings in the holding and processing of the prisoners, and into the proportionality of the response by United Front, US and UK forces.

"What can there be to fear from an inquiry except the truth and a clear message that impunity will not be tolerated. The history of Afghanistan is riddled with the abuse of human rights and there can be no sustainable peace in the country if impunity for past and current abuses is allowed."

If the forces who were directly involved in this incident are not willing to conduct an inquiry, an international inquiry involving the United Nations should be considered.

Amnesty International reiterates its call for the deployment of international human rights monitors across the country as soon as possible, and for an expert commission to be established without delay to look into mechanisms for bringing to justice perpetrators of current and past serious human rights abuses in Afghanistan.

Afghan Gen. Rashid Dostum glances at reporters upon his arrival at a fortress prison near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001. Several hundred pro-Taliban prisoners captured part of the fortress prison Sunday, and were defeated in three days of fighting which involved British and U.S. special forces. Dostum said Wednesday 30 of his fighters were killed and 200 wounded. Alliance officials said earlier that hundreds of Taliban were killed. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Members of the joint U.S. and British special operation forces ride on of their vehicle during a pull out from a fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 26, 2001. Several hundred prisoners, mostly foreign fighters fighting on the Taliban side captured part of the mud-walled fortress where hundreds of their comrades were killed a day earlier, witnesses said. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Northern alliance fighters unload weapons from their truck prior fighting with pro-Taliban forces in a fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif, Northern Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 26, 2001. Several hundred prisoners, mostly foreign fighters fighting on the Taliban side captured part of the mud-walled fortress where hundreds of their comrades were killed a day earlier, witnesses said. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Northern alliance fighters jump from their truck prior to fighting with pro-Taliban forces in a fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 26, 2001. Several hundred prisoners, mostly foreign fighters fighting on the Taliban side captured part of a mud-walled fortress where hundreds of their comrades were killed a day earlier, witnesses said. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Northern alliance troops observe enemy positions from their truck during fighting with pro-Taliban forces in a fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif, Northern Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 26, 2001. Several hundred prisoners, mostly foreign fighters fighting on the Taliban side captured part of the mud-walled fortress where hundreds of their comrades were killed a day earlier, witnesses said. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

In this image taken from video by a German television network, northern alliance fighters aim their weapons during an uprising at a northern alliance prison in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2001. Northern alliance troops and captured loyalists of Osama bin Laden fought a second day of pitched battles in the mud-walled fortress Monday, with the prisoners raining mortar fire and rocket-propelled grenades on their former captors. (AP Photo/ARD)

Northern Alliance soldier fires from the roof of the huge Qala-i-Jhangi fort of General Abdul Rashid Dostum November 25, 2001 after hundreds of foreign prisoners seized guns from their anti-Taliban captors and staged a bloody revolt in the mud-walled 19th century fort near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Some 500 prisoners linked to the al Qaeda network of Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden grabbed Kalashnikov rifles, machineguns and grenades from their Northern Alliance guards and battled them for about four hours. Many were killed and wounded on both sides, witnesses said. (Reuters Tv/Reuters)

UK special forces also helped to coordinate the onslaught


US special forces joined the assault, backed by air strikes


A stray US bomb killed six alliance men and wounded five US soldiers


All the prisoners are believed dead
 

Northern Alliance guards patrol the roof of the huge Qala-i-Jhangi fort of General Abdul Rashid Dostum November 25, 2001 after hundreds of foreign prisoners seized guns from their anti-Taliban captors and staged a bloody revolt in the mud-walled 19th century fort near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Some 500 prisoners linked to the al Qaeda network of Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden grabbed Kalashnikov rifles, machineguns and grenades from their Northern Alliance guards and battled them for about four hours. Many were killed and wounded on both sides, witnesses said. (Reuters Tv/Reuters)

A group of northern alliance troops make their way by the fortress walls during fighting with pro-Taliban forces in the fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 26, 2001. Several hundred prisoners, mostly foreign fighters fighting on the Taliban side captured part of the mud-walled fortress where hundreds of their comrades were killed a day earlier, witnesses said. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Northern Alliance fighters walk through a field covered with bodies of pro-Taliban forces inside the fortress near Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan. Several hundred pro-Taliban prisoners held in the fort captured part of the compound, the headquarters of Afghan warlord General Dostum, and were killed during two days of fighting which involved British and US special forces.Photo: Darko Bandic, AP
 

An Afghan man and two boys walk through the field covered with bodies of pro-Taliban forces in the fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001. Several hundred prisoners, mostly foreign fighters fighting on the Taliban side captured part of the fortress, headquarters of Afghan warlord General Dostum, and were killed during two days of fighting which involved British and U.S. special forces. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Local Red Cross workers carry a body of a pro-Taliban fighter in the fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001. Several hundred prisoners, mostly foreign fighters fighting on the Taliban side captured part of fortress, headquarters of Afghan warlord General Dostum, and were killed during two day fighting which involved British and U.S. special forces. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

A northern alliance fighter looks on, as local Red Cross workers carry bodies of pro-Taliban fighters, at the fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001. Several hundred prisoners, mostly foreign fighters fighting on the Taliban side captured part of the fortress, headquarters of Afghan warlord General Dostum, and were killed during two days of fighting which involved British and U.S. special forces. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Northern alliance fighters look at local Red Cross workers carrying the body of a pro-Taliban fighter in the fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001. Several hundred prisoners, mostly foreign fighters fighting on the Taliban side captured part of fortress, headquarters of Afghan warlord General Dostum, and were killed during two days of fighting which involved British and U.S. special forces. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

An Afghan man searches for usable weapons in a container in a prison fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001. Several hundred pro-Taliban prisoners captured part of the fortress Sunday, headquarters of Afghan warlord General Dostum, and were killed during three days of fighting which involved British and U.S. special forces. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

A local resident kicks the head of a dead pro-Taliban foreign fighter near a fortress prison outside Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2001. Several hundred prisoners, mostly foreign fighters fighting on the Taliban side captured part of their fortress prison Sunday, but by Tuesday alliance forces claimed to have regained control. Several fighters tried to escape and were killed by residetns in a nearby village. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
 

Northern alliance fighters try to pull out a golden tooth from the body of a pro-Taliban fighter in a fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001. Several hundred prisoners, mostly foreign fighters fighting on the Taliban side captured part of the prison fortress Sunday, headquarters of Afghan warlord General Dostum, and were killed during three days of fighting which involved British and U.S. special forces. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

A northern alliance fighter kicks the body of a pro-Taliban soldier in front of local Red Cross workers in the fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001. Several hundred prisoners, mostly foreign fighters fighting on the Taliban side captured part of the fortress, headquarters of Afghan warlord General Dostum, and were killed during two days of fighting which involved British and U.S. special forces. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Bodies of pro-Taliban fighters lie in a hole in a fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001. Several hundred prisoners, mostly foreign fighters fighting on the Taliban side captured part of the fortress headquarters of Afghan warlord Gen. Dostum, and were killed during two-day fighting which involved British and US special forces. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)