Amnesty International Calls for Georgia War Crimes Investigation

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Voice of America

Amnesty International Calls for Georgia War Crimes Investigation
By Mandy Clark
London
18 November 2008

An independent report on the war between Russia and Georgia in August, is calling for an investigation into the conduct of all parties during the hostilities. The London-based human rights organization, Amnesty International, says it is concerned serious rights violations took place at the time.

Amnesty says all sides in the August conflict may have committed abuses. In its new report, Amnesty says Georgian and Russian forces and militia fighters in the breakaway South Ossetia region should be investigated for war crimes during the conflict.

Amnesty's John Dalhuisen says there is strong evidence of human rights violations, noting concerns over "indiscriminate attacks by Georgian forces on entering Tskhinvali and then Russian forces in reply.

"Amnesty is also very concerned with the "looting, pillaging and destruction of civilian property essentially by South Ossetian forces and militia groups in aftermath of the conflict," said Dalhuisen.

The war erupted when Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili launched a military operation against separatists in the breakaway province of South Ossetia to bring them under Tbilisi's control.



Read more: http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-11-18-voa27.cfm

[AtheistCrusader]

1. Good.

Go Amnesty International. This issue has fallen off most people's radars, and it is still unresolved. Why the Georgian people haven't thrown Saakashvili in jail yet, I cannot imagine. But Russia's response, while I feel it was justified, was indiscriminate and heavy handed considering civilians were in the crossfire. Both sides badly need some closure here.

[YankmeCrankme]

2. I'll support AI as soon as they call for an investigation about war crimes in Iraq.

The indiscriminate attacks by Georgia or Russia in that conflict pale in comparison, by a huge amount, to the indiscriminate attacks by coalition forces and US paid mercenaries against Iraqi civilians, for goodness sake.

Is this a propaganda piece, or what?

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

3. I second the motion.

Accountability needs to be forthcoming.

[Judi Lynn]

4. I looked for another source for the information, but the other ones were published

yesterday, and weren't usable for LBN.

When I saw this was from the Voice of America, I looked for other sources, first!

I know the feeling of prefering my news NOT from V.O.A., believe me.