Afghan Death Case Renews Calls for Independent Investigation of Military Abuses

Thursday's recommendation by the U.S. Army's Criminal Investigation Division that 28 soldiers be charged in connection with the beating deaths of two prisoners held at a detention facility in Afghanistan in December 2002 has spurred new calls for an entirely independent investigation of abuses of detainees by U.S. forces in "war on terrorism." The announcement, which said that charges could include involuntary manslaughter and maiming, as well as less serious offenses, came just shy of two years after the two prisoners died. Human rights observers have deplored the military's failure to immediately investigate the deaths, suggesting there may have been an attempt to cover them up. "Taking 22 months to investigate apparent homicides that occurred in U.S.-run overseas prisons is not conducive to protecting prisoners from torture and abuse," said Jumana Musa of Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) shortly after the announcement. "In fact, the failure to promptly account for the prisoners' deaths indicates a chilling disregard for the value of human life and may have laid the groundwork for further abuses in Abu Ghraib (prison in Iraq) and elsewhere." "This announcement is further evidence that the ill-treatment of detainees did not start at Abu Ghraib (prison in Iraq), and will not stop without a comprehensive independent investigation of the torture scandal, including all identified and 'secret' detention facilities operated or accessed by the U.S." she added. [more