Amnesty: "Where are the bodies?"

http://web.amnesty.org/web/news.nsf/WebAll/483EC8372B6A32EA80256BA300481012?
OpenDocument

Preliminary findings of Amnesty International delegates' visit to Jenin
AI Index: MDE 15/058/2002
Publish date: 22/04/2002

On their return from a research mission to Israel and the Occupied
Territories, Amnesty International delegates presented today their
preliminary findings during a press conference at the Foreign Press
Association. Delegates interviewed eye-witnesses and met government
representatives, including from the Israeli Defence Forces. They visited
Rumaneh village, Jenin city, Jenin City Hospital and Jenin Refugee Camp.

" The evidence compiled indicates that serious breaches of international
human rights and humanitarian law were committed, including war crimes, but
only an independent international commission of inquiry can establish the
full facts and the scale of these violations," said Javier Zuniga, Director
of Regional Strategy of the organization's International Secretariat.

The delegation received credible evidence of such serious violations
including:

* Failure to give civilians warning or time to evacuate Jenin refugee camp
before Apache helicopters launched their first attacks.

* Failure by the Israeli Defence Forces to protect the people of the refugee
camp, who are "protected people" under the Fourth Geneva Convention relative
to the Protection of Civilians Persons in Time of War.

* Allegations of extrajudicial executions

* Failure, for 13 days, to allow humanitarian assistance to the people in
the camp who were trapped in the rubble of demolished houses or running out
of food and water. 

* Denial of medical assistance to the wounded in the refugee camp and
deliberate targeting of ambulances.

* Excessive use of lethal force and using civilians as a "human shield".

* Ill-treatment, including beatings and degrading treatment, of Palestinian
detainees.

* Extensive damage to property with no apparent military necessity.

Commenting on his preliminary findings following the autopsies he carried
out in Jenin Hospital, Professor Derrick Pounder said:

"What was striking is what was absent. There were very few bodies in the
hospital. There were also none who were seriously injured, only the 'walking
wounded'. Thus we have to ask: where are the bodies and where are the
seriously injured?"

"Delegates stressed that the UN fact - finding mission which was being set
up was an important first step towards establishing the truth. However, an
independent international commission of inquiry should follow without delay.
This should have the means and the expertise necessary to carry out a
serious and thorough investigation. "The report of this investigation must
be made public and those found responsible brought to justice".
 
\ENDS 


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