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| Amnesty says govt handing over Swat people to Taliban |
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Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Bureau report
PESHAWAR: Reacting to the official announcement about enforcement of Nizam-e-Adl Regulation in Malakand Division and Kohistan district, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Director Sam Zarifi has said the government was reneging on its duty to protect the basic human rights of Swat valley by “ handing them over to Taliban insurgents.”
In an emailed statement, the AI director said the Pakistani government must ensure protection of the human rights of nearly two million people in Swat valley and neighbouring Malakand district.
“This follows the announcement that the government entered a truce with insurgents, known as the Pakistani Taliban, in Swat valley, that could legitimise the human rights abuses that have been taking place in the region as the Taliban influence has increased,” he said.
Previously, he said, the government launched indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks against the Taliban that mostly harmed civilians. “Now the human rights of these civilians will be in jeopardy if they live under Taliban laws,” he maintained.
“The influence of the Pakistani Taliban has already been felt by the people of Swat valley, with the unlawful killing of scores of government workers, as well as those whom they view as violating their edicts,” he further said.
The statement said the Taliban had also publicly whipped men for shaving their beards, destroyed shops for selling music and forcibly prohibited women from leaving their houses unless escorted by a male relative.
“Girls and women have been systematically targeted by Taliban for gender-based violence and discrimination. Their rights to freedom of movement, work and education have been severely curtailed. The Pakistani government cannot just abandon these people and sign away their rights,” he said.
Zarifi added that since 2007, when a previous peace deal fell apart, between 250,000 - 500,000 people had been forced to flee their homes in the Swat valley. “The AI has previously warned about the situation for civilians in the Swat valley,” he concluded.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
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