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Rights group details abuses by US forces in Afghanistan
Washington, March 09: US forces operating in Afghanistan have arbitrarily detained civilians, used excessive force during arrests of non-combatants and maltreated detainees, New-York based international rights group, Human Rights Watch has charged.
Washington, Mar 09: US forces operating in Afghanistan have arbitrarily detained civilians, used excessive force during arrests of non-combatants and maltreated detainees, New-York based international rights group, Human Rights Watch has charged.
The United States is maintaining separate detention facilities at Bagram, Kandahar, Jalalabad and Asadabad military bases.
Brad Adams, executive director of the Asia division of Human Rights Watch, said , ``Civilians are being held in a legal black hole with no tribunals, no legal counsel, no family visits and no basic legal protections.``
Afghan forces deployed with U.S. Forces have also maltreated persons during search and arrest operations and looted homes. Released detainees have said that US forces severely beat them, splashed cold water and subjected them to freezing temperatures. Many said they were forced to stay awake, or to stand or kneel in painful positions for extended periods of time.
The report also describes the arbitrary arrests of civilians, apparently based on mistaken or faulty intelligence and numerous cases of civilians-grocers, farmers or labourers-who were held incommunicado and indefinitely.
The 59-page report titled, ``Enduring freedom: Abuses by U.S. forces in Afghanistan``, is based on what Human Rights Watch said was research conducted by it in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2003 and early 2004. Bureau Report
Brad Adams, executive director of the Asia division of Human Rights Watch, said , ``Civilians are being held in a legal black hole with no tribunals, no legal counsel, no family visits and no basic legal protections.``
Afghan forces deployed with U.S. Forces have also maltreated persons during search and arrest operations and looted homes. Released detainees have said that US forces severely beat them, splashed cold water and subjected them to freezing temperatures. Many said they were forced to stay awake, or to stand or kneel in painful positions for extended periods of time.
The report also describes the arbitrary arrests of civilians, apparently based on mistaken or faulty intelligence and numerous cases of civilians-grocers, farmers or labourers-who were held incommunicado and indefinitely.
The 59-page report titled, ``Enduring freedom: Abuses by U.S. forces in Afghanistan``, is based on what Human Rights Watch said was research conducted by it in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2003 and early 2004. Bureau Report