Poland Charges 7 in Afghan Killings

[Jaga]

this is a big news in Poland today:

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Prosecutors charged six Polish soldiers Wednesday with murder and violating international law in the deaths of several civilians in an allegedly unprovoked attack in Afghanistan.

A seventh soldier involved in the Aug. 16 attack on the Nangarkhel village faces lesser charges, said Karol Frankowski, a military prosecutor in the western city of Poznan.

The criminal charges were the first brought against Polish soldiers in connection with military actions while serving in Afghanistan. Several soldiers who served in Iraq were found guilty of corruption while on duty.

The group is accused of firing mortars and machine guns on the village in the eastern Afghan province of Paktika without "any simultaneous, direct threat," in violation of The Hague and Geneva conventions protecting civilians in areas of armed conflict, Frankowski said.

Six civilians — including children — were killed and three women suffered wounds that resulted in amputated limbs, Frankowski said.

If found guilty, the six charged with murder face prison terms of between 12 years and life, and the seventh soldier could face at least five years in prison.

A military judge ordered the seven to be held in custody for three months.

Frankowski said the seven had been sent to the village "several hours" after a Polish patrol struck a roadside bomb nearby. Although no Taliban fighters were found in the village, the troops opened fire, Frankowski said, citing the indictment.
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ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g4qmQAl5nxlPtm1xGaeXbhyTufNwD8STLU480

[bescheid]

Jaga

It is indeed a tragedy in respect to the civilian deaths. But, understandable. For this is a war zone. If perchance the villagers were straightforward, they with the knowledge of the hidden bombs, would have given warning to the Polish solders in advance, but, they held their silence, and as thus, paid the price.

This is an example of the scope of civilian authority in proper understanding of military reporting. The report must be transcribed into civilian understandable language that will be comprehensible to their sensibilities.

I have with previous read of this incident reported by VOA. The civilian casualties were brought about during the operation of a fire fight with militants.

In other words the militants being Afghans them selves, used the village as a front with the occupants as a shield.

In the course of events, the village should have been deemed and accident with obliteration of entirety the village.

Kosovo was little different. Only there it was the Albanians being held by Serbs.

Charles

[Jaga]

According to what soldiers are telling now, they were going to fire mortars in the Taliban station. A couple of times the soldiers guards were shot from these stations. Unfortunately some mortars hit the village instead of taliban place.