U.N. official denounces
Fallujah killings
Seattle Post
By ALEXANDER G. HIGGINS
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITE
Wednesday, November 17, 2004 · Last updated 1:50 a.m.
PT
GENEVA -- The United Nations top human rights official on
Tuesday denounced the killing of civilians and injured people in
Fallujah, saying violators of international humanitarian law must
be brought to justice.
Louise Arbour, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights,
spoke in general terms and did not specifically mention
insurgents' attacks against hostages or a U.S. military report
that it is investigating the videotaped fatal shooting of a
wounded man by a U.S. Marine in a mosque in Fallujah.
"There have been a number of reports during the current
confrontation alleging violations of the rules of war designed to
protect civilians and combatants," Arbour said in a
statement.
"All violations of international humanitarian law and human
rights law must be investigated and those responsible for
breaches - including the deliberate targeting of civilians,
indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, the killing of
injured persons and the use of human shields - must be brought to
justice, be they members of the multinational force or
insurgents," Arbour said.
She also complained of she said was a lack of independent
access to civilians trapped in Fallujah during the U.S.-led
assault and an absence of information on the number of civilians
casualties.
A relief convoy of ambulances and supplies was unable to enter
Fallujah because of fighting in the city Monday, Red Crescent
officials said.
Rana Sidani, a spokeswoman for the International Red Cross,
said that no international relief organizations have been able to
enter the city since the assault began more than a week ago.
"We are sure that there are civilians in Fallujah," Sidani
said. "There are injured without access to medical care."
She said the Red Cross, whose mandate is to protect victims of
war, knew there were civilians inside the city because it had
been in telephone contact with them.
People who reached safety have told the Red Cross they had to
leave civilians behind, Sidani said. "They tried to leave but
were prevented from doing so," she said.
Sidani said she didn't know whether the civilians left behind
were men or whether there were also women and children.
"This is the problem," she said. "There is nobody (to observe)
in there."
"Whether they are women and children or men, they are
protected under international humanitarian law. Even if they are
men and participating in the conflict and are injured. Once they
are injured, they are protected," she said.
Marie Heuze, spokeswoman for U.N. offices in Geneva, said the
entire "United Nations is following what's happening in Fallujah
with deep concern."
The World Health Organization has provided supplies to the
Iraqi Health Ministry, including 50,000 blood bags, officials
said. UNICEF will provide drinking water to Fallujah residents
who fled to the outskirts.
The U.N. refugee agency and the International Organization for
Migration have provided tents and other supplies for the
displaced.
Christiane Berthiaume, spokeswoman for the United Nations'
World Food Program, said "Iraqi institutions have the capacity to
provide food through the public distribution system, which is
functioning as required and with which we will assist."
Associated Press Writer Jonathan Fowler contributed to this
report.
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