Afghan Deaths Probe Backs Charges

[Guest Lottie]

Human rights groups have been critical of detentions at Bagram

Up to 28 US soldiers could face criminal charges in connection with the deaths of two prisoners at a US-run prison in Afghanistan in 2002.

The recommendation was made in a report by the US army's Criminal Investigations Division.

The soldiers are believed to be from a military police reservist unit and an active military intelligence unit.

So far, only one person, a military police sergeant, has been charged in connection with the deaths.

The other 28 soldiers have not been named.

Potential offences range from conspiracy to involuntary manslaughter.

Died of injuries

Sergeant James Boland was charged with assault and dereliction of duty in connection with the deaths.

He was a guard at the Bagram air base north of Kabul where the two men died.

A military coroner had concluded that they died due to trauma suffered after receiving "blunt-force" injuries.

The detainees had spent about a week in the detention facility when they died last December.

The first man died after developing a blood clot in his lungs. The second died a week later after developing blood clots as well as suffering a heart attack.

The report is the latest step in US military investigations into allegations that its soldiers abused prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Human rights groups accuse the US government of subjecting prisoners to physical abuse leading to a number of deaths and attempted suicides in custody.

Source

[Fluffybunny]

Human rights groups accuse the US government of subjecting prisoners to physical abuse leading to a number of deaths and attempted suicides in custody.

Tough call. If they are torturing innocent civilians that is one thing, but if the folks they have in custody are part of an opposing force, well...you gotta do what you gotta do...

Is it me or do the "human rights groups" seem to be mysteriously silent when the head are chopped off of civilian aid workers by terrorist groups?