Philippine Troops Abused Rights In Marawi Battle: Amnesty
Faizan Hashmi Published November 17, 2017 | 03:50 PM
Philippine troops detained and tortured civilians trying to flee a besieged southern city during a five-month battle with militants loyal to the Islamic State group, Amnesty International alleged Friday
Manila, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Nov, 2017 ) :Philippine troops detained and tortured civilians trying to flee a besieged southern city during a five-month battle with militants loyal to the Islamic State group, Amnesty International alleged Friday.
The US-backed military campaign to retake Marawi claimed the lives of more than 1,100 people including around 900 militants, displaced 400,000 residents and reduced large parts of the city to rubble.
Amnesty called on Manila to investigate claims of "serious violations of international humanitarian law and other serious violations and abuses of human rights law" in a report on the violence, a month after President Rodrigo Duterte declared the city liberated from pro-IS gunmen.
"Philippine government forces violated the prohibition against torture and other ill-treatment of detainees, and allegedly committed the crime of pillage," the report said. The rights group said it interviewed eight people, including seven Christian construction workers, who described how they were subjected to "sustained beatings and threats of execution" by Philippine marines.
Amnesty also said it spoke with several people who alleged that government forces looted civilian property of television sets, antiques, and computers while the militants stole weapons, jewellery and money from homes.
"Government forces may also have carried out disproportionate air and ground attacks," it said, adding that the civilian death toll from bombings and militant killings "is likely significantly higher than the official count".
Philippine military spokesmen in Manila and Marawi did not immediately respond to requests for comment by AFP. Hundreds of local and foreign gunmen who had pledged allegiance to IS rampaged through Marawi, the principal Islamic city in the mainly Catholic Philippines, on May 23.
The rebellion was put down with the help of US and Australian surveillance planes and drones, with China and Russia also sending weapons to Filipino troops. US Defence Secretary James Mattis last month praised the Philippine military for upholding human rights during the brutal urban battle.
But Amnesty said it had documented "a variety of serious violations of international humanitarian law by all parties" in the conflict. Its report said witnesses described the militants killing at least 25 mostly Christian civilians, by shooting them or slitting their throats -- murders it described as war crimes.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Azad Jammu Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq condoles over the demise ..
Senior Army Commanders visit families of customs' martyrs to condole
Poland-Pakistan corporation established on solid foundations: Polish envoy
Chairman Senate passes ruling to constitute Special Committee of Upper House
Stocks fall as tech shares sink, US economy slows
Honda announces US$11 bn EV battery and vehicle plant in Canada
All AJK Inter-varsity Speech Competition urges UNO to ensure early grant of righ ..
AJK CEC calls on President Sultan Chaudhry
Assistant Secretary General of UNDP, Director of Regional Bureau for Asia & Paci ..
Portugal marks 50 years of democracy with far right on the rise
IHC suspends notification regarding cut in prices of 'naan & roti'
More Stories From World
-
Honda announces US$11 bn EV battery and vehicle plant in Canada
23 minutes ago -
Portugal marks 50 years of democracy with far right on the rise
21 minutes ago -
Oman, UAE deluge 'most likely' linked to climate change: scientists
1 hour ago -
BHP launches $38.8 billion takeover bid for rival Anglo American
1 hour ago -
Saudi oil giant Aramco agrees major FIFA sponsorship deal
1 hour ago -
Putin says plans to visit China in May
1 hour ago
-
Haiti transitional council sworn in after months of violence
2 hours ago -
Ukrainian village battles mines year after Russia forced out
2 hours ago -
China's Shenzhou-18 mission takes off bound for space station
2 hours ago -
Thousands of flights scrapped as French air traffic controllers strike
2 hours ago -
India's IndiGo to buy 30 A350 planes: Airbus
2 hours ago -
Scottish leader scraps coalition deal with Greens
2 hours ago