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In memory of
22
civilians (including women and children): Shekh Anwar, family father Sheri Ali, his son Norullah, another son Noral, another son Shekh Anwar’s wife Shekh Anwar’s infant Torgul, son of Mohammad Masom 2 small children of Mohammad Masom Feda Mohammad, son of Akam Khan Abdullah, son of Akam Khan 2 small children of Akam Khan 2 sons of Mohammad Hanif Haji Dastangul, family grandfather Basgul, wife of Haji Dastangul Mohammada Gul, son Sayeda Gul, son Denar Gul, grandson of Haji Dastangul 2
other children of the Dastangul family
at 3 A.M. on January 23/24, 2009 in
the mountain village of Garoch in the district of Mehtarlam, Laghman Province. The
Garoch area had been struck by U.S forces three times before during 2008. The
U.S. military carried out a ground and aerial attack allegedly targeting “a
Taliban commander.” Shooting broke out as the occupation forces approached the
village and, as usual, close air support was called-in. The U.S. bombing or
strafing resulted in 11-22 civilians including women and children being killed.
A village elder, Malik Rahman Gul, put the dead at 21 civilians. Local legislators put the
number of dead at more than 20 and said they included women and children. The
head of Laghman’s provincial council, Emadudin Abdul Rahimzai, said 22 people
were killed and their bodies found at different locations. "They were all
civilians, including two women and two children," he said, adding “Several
tribal elders in the area contacted me today and said they took out 21 dead bodies,
including women, from the destroyed houses.” The Karzai regime said 16
civilians had died including 3 children and 2 women. Other
Afghan officials put forth figures of at least 11, or 16 or 21. 15 homes were
destroyed, 260 cattle were slaughtered in the attack. At 6 A.M. the U.S
occupation troops finally leave Garoch. Many villagers (~250 families) decide
to flee their homes to live in the desert near the provincial capital,
Mehtarlam. In March 2009, an epidemic killed 3 more children. Water and food are scarce. Rahim Gul, 55, who fled Garoch
told the independent Pahjwok Afghan News
(the A.P. showed no interest apparently), “what kind of a government
is this and what kind of human rights they speak of as we are dying of thirst
while 5 kms away people bathe in water.” True
to form, the U.S. military proclaimed it had killed “15 militants.” How were
militants recognized in the dead of night? The next day angry anti-American
demonstrations took place in Mehtarlam and the U.S. military promised to carry
out a non-independent investigation
of itself. Malik
Rahman Gul told Reuters by telephone, “Their
(21) bodies are on the ground. If you (Afghan government) do not believe us,
you have helicopters and you should come to the area and see that these are civilians.” The U.S military might wish to speak with the villagers
of Garoch filmed by Al Jazeera to find out what really happened on the ground.
The rare video of villagers bombed by U.S. war planes may be viewed at Video: US air
raid fuels Afghan anger - 27 Jan 09
Killed
in a U.S. close air support strike at 3 A.M |
