Agenzia Fides

Kabul (Agenzia Fides) - "The massacre in Kandahar is a sad episode that we cannot ignore. We want guarantees that that this does not happen again. Afghan society experienced a day of profound mourning for the crime against humanity. We will ask, in a public event, that the offender is brought to justice": announces to Fides Aziz Rafiee, Director of the "Afghan Civil Society Forum Organization ", Afghan civil society platform, in the aftermath of the massacre in which Yesterday, March 11, an American soldier, in a murderous rampage, killed 16 civilians, among whom nine children in two villages near Kandahar.
Aziz Rafiee explains: "The fear is that the crime carried out by one person is seen as a crime on behalf of the U.S. and the international community: so say the Taliban, and we are worried. We hope that the U.S. can prove that it is not so".
"In public opinion there is great anger and dismay," an Afghan official who works in a hospital in Kabul, who asked for anonymity for security reasons says in an interview with Fides. "Unfortunately, the hatred towards Americans is growing: episodes like this play into the hands of the Taliban, who take advantage of these situations for their propaganda, dragging moderate sectors of society towards more extreme positions. Today the situation is calm in Kabul – he notes- but protests are being prepared". The official in Kabul said he understands the reasons that may produce these "acts of madness", since the "military live on alert for 24 hours out of 24 and suffer from severe stress", but asks that the U.S. administration keeps open "a sincere dialogue with the Afghans, keeping open a channel of tansparent communication, which is very important for the public opinion. It is necessary to tell the truth, avoiding arrogant attitudes". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/03/2012)