Author: Abu Raef
Colonialism (21st part)
War crimes of Dutch soldiers
Another country that has committed war crimes in Afghanistan, and this issue has been confirmed and established by the country’s own courts, is the Netherlands. The Dutch national newspaper called “Tru” has reported that “Servi Holzken”, a retired criminal soldier of the Dutch army. He had served in Uruzgan province in Afghanistan, in 2007 where he admitted to opening fire on civilians and killing them.
Holzken stated that they fired at two houses belonging to civilians in Uruzgan, and it is possible that civilians were killed in the shooting. This soldier mentioned that they believed members of the Taliban Mujahideen were present in the houses targeted by their attack; however, after the shooting, they noticed the presence of civilians in these houses. Of course, he also excused this attack on the grounds that it was carried out based on information obtained through the wireless set and the given instructions.
He further stated that during this attack, there was no gunfire from the other side. Another retired soldier also confirmed this incident, emphasizing that their action was unfair. They were only allowed to fire in situations where they were protecting civilians, defending themselves, and in situation when their mission where endangered. This violated the laws of war.
This attack took place in the “Choureh” district in Uruzgan province and resulted in the deaths of more than twenty innocent and unarmed people. A court in the Netherlands decided that this attack on a residential area was illegal, and the victims should be compensated.
The court added in a statement that Netherlands was responsible for the rocket attacks on the houses, making it clear that the residents of these houses were civilians. The Dutch government argued that the Taliban were using these houses for military purposes, justifying the attacks; however, the court pointed out that there was not enough evidence to support this claim. Consequently, the attack was deemed illegal, and the victims should be compensated.
The use of white phosphorus
White phosphorus is a chemical substance used to create smoke, lighting, and incendiary ammunition. It has two significant negative effects on people: burns and smoke inhalation. Another war crime committed by the occupying countries in Afghanistan, which has had severely negative effects on people, causing severe burns and injuries, is the use of white phosphorus. Human rights organizations have condemned its use as cruel and inhumane due to the severe burns it causes.
White phosphorus burns have been confirmed on the bodies of civilians injured in clashes near Bagram. The United States claims at least 44 cases in which aggressors used white phosphorus in weapons or attacks. In May 2009, the United States confirmed that Western military forces in Afghanistan were using white phosphorus to illuminate targets or as an incendiary to destroy enemy bunkers and equipment. When conventional smoke munitions were not available, US forces used white phosphorus as a retreat check at the Battle of Ganjgul.
General crimes of the occupiers in Afghanistan
The cases that were mentioned in the war crimes of the occupiers and aggressors were those war crimes that the occupiers themselves and the human rights organizations under their supervision had investigated and approved and sent fact-finding committees and research teams to investigate them. But in fact, the American and NATO occupation and the extensive attack on Afghanistan, as well as the effects and consequences of this terrible event, was the biggest crime against the people of Afghanistan and the generations of this land.
This occupation and its effects caused the killing and wounding of a large part of the Afghan people, and the economic, political, military, scientific and industrial power of Afghanistan underwent major and fundamental changes. The hidden riches of Afghanistan remained hidden, and, in some cases, they were taken as hostages by the invaders and used in their goals and desires.
Many unarmed and innocent people of Afghanistan were martyred and wounded, and this aggression and military campaign caused the next generations of Afghanistan to deal with the challenges and effects of war and its devastating results, and to see a future with darkness and terrible problems for themselves.
The costs of occupying Afghanistan
The invasion of Afghanistan by the United States and other Western countries resulted in the deaths of thousands of people. Afghans were killed or injured in three critical categories: Mujahideen fighting against the occupiers, Soldiers who sided with the occupying forces and were killed, and innocent civilians who perished due to bombings or ground warfare unintentionally.
Statistics indicate that over 47,725 unarmed civilians were killed, while the death toll for those in the Afghan mercenary army aligned with the occupiers ranged between 66,000 and 69,000. Additionally, more than 51,000 Mujahideen lost their lives in resistance against the occupation forces. In total, the occupation of Afghanistan resulted in over 171,000 to 174,000 fatalities.
These figures represent direct casualties of the war. Indirectly, more than 360,000 individuals were estimated to have perished during the occupation and invasion. In addition to the fatalities, thousands of Afghans were left injured, disabled, or missing as a result of the conflict. Regarding the financial impact, the war in Afghanistan cost the United States alone over 2 trillion dollars, according to research conducted at Brown University.
