9 Italian Medical Workers Held in Afganistan

[sharon sanders]

KABUL, 12 April 2010 (IRIN) - The detention of nine members of an Italian medical NGO in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, on charges of "terrorism and assassination" has embarrassed aid workers across the country. "I was shocked by the news," Laurent Sailard, director of ACBAR, a consortium of over 100 Afghan and foreign NGOs in Kabul, told IRIN. "It was bad and unexpected news," said Shir Shah, a health contractor in Helmand Province. The Ministry of Public Health said it was "startled" by the news and was waiting for further details.

more.......

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/cf2cf722e9a06f02889cc5174d1cf9b9.htm

 

[tropical]

Re: 9 Italian Medical Workers Held in Afganistan

libero news
temporeale by ansa it

http://temporeale.libero.it/libero/news/2010-04-13_113496615.html

'Emergency' hospital in Afghan hands

Italian NGO claims can't do job properly

excerpts:
"...
"If their aim was to stop us working in Lashkar Gah, their goal has been achieved," said Bersani, whose organisation claims the bombs were planted to get a vocal witness to the civilian toll of the Afghan war out of the area."
...
"Emergency says the three were "framed" to get rid of the relief organisation because it is an unwanted witness to the scale of civilian casualties.

Meanwhile Rome prosecutors are following the case and a probe will be formally opened this week "whether the charges prove to have some basis or not"."
...
"The head of Emergency, Gino Strada, has called the allegations against the three "a set-up" and suggested NATO wants Emergency out of the way because it is releasing undesired details about the civilian cost of the war.
..."

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: 9 Italian Medical Workers Held in Afganistan

Emergency, Press Release: (http://www.emergency.it/menu.php?A=006&SA=058&ln=It&cs=168)
[WARNING! Raw Machine Translation for Italian language. Please do refer to the original text reproduced below and the original at the source site.]



Press Contacts:
press@emergency.it
simonetta@emergency.it


13/04/10 - Press release April 13
They arrived in Kabul the 6 who had been cooperating Emergency in Lashkar-gah after the raid the police and the Afghan intelligence services and military forces of NATO-ISAF in the Emergency.

Among the six, the logistics of the hospital in Kabul who had gone to Lashkar-gah immediately after the raid, a nurse anesthetist and three Italian and Indian physiotherapist working in the facility. Following the transactions that led to the withdrawal of Mark Garatti, and Matteo Pagani Matteo AIRO, the staff remained in the home of international cities.

The staff of Emergency was not entered in the hospital since then and Emergency irruption no longer the responsibility of hospital activities.

The time limits of 72 hours in detention, yet there is no news on the legal position of the stop, including Marco Garatti, AIRO Matteo and Matteo Pagani. In Emergency at that time not yet been any charges against them nor that they have been given rights to protect them, including the possibility of appointing a lawyer.

Emergency is waiting to receive more information on the condition of detained by the Italian embassy in Kabul that is following the situation.

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Contatti stampa:
press@emergency.it
simonetta@emergency.it

13/04/10 - Comunicato 13 aprile

Sono arrivati a Kabul i 6 cooperanti di Emergency che erano rimasti a Lashkar-gah dopo l?irruzione della polizia, dei servizi segreti afgani e dei militari delle forze Isaf-Nato nell?ospedale di Emergency.

Tra i sei, il logista dell?ospedale di Kabul che era andato a Lashkar-gah subito dopo l'irruzione, una anestesista e tre infermiere italiane e un fisioterapista indiano che lavoravano nella struttura. In seguito alle operazioni che hanno portato al prelevamento di Marco Garatti, Matteo Dell?Aira e Matteo Pagani, lo staff era rimasto nell?abitazione degli internazionali in citt?.

Lo staff di Emergency non era pi? entrato in ospedale dal momento dell?irruzione e da allora Emergency non ha pi? la responsabilit? delle attivit? dell?ospedale.

Scaduti i termini di 72 ore per il fermo, ancora non si hanno notizie sulla posizione giuridica dei fermati, tra cui Marco Garatti, Matteo Dell'Aira e Matteo Pagani. A Emergency al momento non risulta che sia stata ancora formulata alcuna accusa a loro carico n? che siano stati indicati i diritti a loro tutela, compresa la possibilit? di nominare un avvocato difensore.

Emergency ? in attesa di ricevere ulteriori informazioni sulla condizione dei fermati da parte della rappresentanza diplomatica italiana a Kabul che sta seguendo l?evolversi della situazione.
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[tropical]

Re: 9 Italian Medical Workers Held in Afganistan

LIBERO NEWS
Temporeale by ANSA IT

http://temporeale.libero.it/libero/news/2010-04-14_114486303.html

Frattini reports on jailed aid workers


excerpt:

"Frattini added that five other Emergency staff at the Lashkar Gah hospital, who have since been moved to Kabul, "may soon be able to leave Afghanistan.

In his appearance before the House, Frattini denied press report that British forces took part in the raid on the Lashkar Gah hospital. Emergency chief Gino Strada claims the three were framed to stop the NGO revealing the scale of the civilian toll in the Afghan war.

"It is my sincere hope, and I believe also in Italy's national interest, that our co-nationals be proven to be totally innocent of the charges which have been made against them. Not only is it in Italy's interest, but obviously also that of the organization they work for," Frattini said."

 

[tropical]

Re: 9 Italian Medical Workers Held in Afganistan

http://www.ilmessaggero.it/articolo_app.php?id=28289&sez=HOME_NELMONDO&npl=&desc_sez=

Excerpt below, machine it.->eng. translated:

"In purpose, one of the nurses in service has told that towards the time of lunch - therefore some hour before the irruption in the structure of Emergency - all the international staff were evacuated for an alarm bomb. But when it has been concurred with the operating ones to re-enter, continues the nurse her story, “the afghan nurse of the ready aid has called us saying to us that soldiers were entered by armory in fist. Matteo, Marco and Matteo have gone in order to see what happening and we are remained to house waiting for news”.

What is happened in those period of time in which the hospital remained without international staff, in the hands of the afghani? Emergency point out that it cannot be excluded that precisely in those moments has been carried capacities arms and explosives in hospital.

“We are well, but we are a lot worried for the colleagues, of which we do not know more nothing”, the woman asserts explaining that “we do not have more seen them from saturday morning and we do not know more nothing than they give when the ambassador has been able to meet them, Sunday”. “By then, absolute dark. All this story is a shameful construction, and also stupid”.
__________

Il Messaggero.it

ROMA (14 aprile) ...

http://www.ilmessaggero.it/articolo_app.php?id=28289&sez=HOME_NELMONDO&npl=&desc_sez=

Un'infermiera di Emergency: il giorno dell'arresto allarme bomba, ospedale evacuato, dentro solo la polizia

estratto:

"In proposito, una delle infermiere in servizio ha raccontato che verso l'ora di pranzo - dunque qualche ora prima dell'irruzione nella struttura di Emergency - tutto il personale internazionale è stato evacuato per un allarme bomba. Quando però è stato consentito agli operatori di rientrare, prosegue l'infermiera nel suo racconto, «ci ha chiamato l'infermiere afghano del pronto soccorso dicendoci che dei militari erano entrati con le armi in pugno. Matteo, Marco e Matteo sono andati per vedere cosa stesse succedendo e noi siamo rimasti a casa in attesa di notizie».

Cosa è accaduto in quel lasso di tempo in cui l'ospedale è rimasto senza personale internazionale, in mano agli afghani? Da Emergency fanno notare che non si può escludere che proprio in quei momenti siano state portate armi ed esplosivo in ospedale.

«Noi stiamo bene, ma siamo molto preoccupati per i colleghi, di cui non sappiamo più nulla», afferma la donna spiegando che «non li abbiamo più visti da sabato mattina e non sappiamo più niente di loro da quando l'ambasciatore ha potuto incontrarli, domenica». «Da allora buio assoluto. Tutta questa storia è una macchinazione vergognosa, e anche stupida»."

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: 9 Italian Medical Workers Held in Afganistan

Thank you Tropical and all other contributors for covering this unfortunate incident involving three individuals (among them an experienced surgeon) kidnapped from an hospital in Laskar Gah, populated by a well trained and engaged group of cooperators belonging to the NGO Emergency.

All humanitarians hope in a prompt release and safe return to their beloved of these people.