Massacre of Hazaras in Bamyan
Sept 1998 - May 1999

Reported by Cooperation Centre of Afghanistan ( CCA ) Peshawer Pakistan

Tens of thousands of people who have taken refuge in the mountains are at risk of losing their lives if urgent assistant is not provided. They need food and protection against the Taliban assaults. Reports reaching from Bamiyan indicate that almost all population of Bamiyan center, Yakowlong and the villages located alongside Shiber-yokowlong road Kalu valley have fled from their homes for the fear of being killed or arrested by the Taliban. Some have gone to neighboring districts but the majority of the fleeing families are still wondering about in outskirts of Baba mountain range where the land is still covered by snow and the weather is severely cold. Recapturing Bamiyan from Hezb-e-Wahdat the Taliban have destroyed and Burnt the houses of people at Dukani and Haider Abad villages and have taken 150 people from Borosona village including Women and Children as captives. These acts have further frightened the civil population. We strongly ask the UN to deploy to other places in Hazarajat which are currently controlled by the opposition. Precaution measures are needed to be taken so that the atrocities on civilian population could be reduced.

 CCA repeats its call upon warring factions to refrain from any action against civilian people. We particularly urge the Taliban to release civilian people whom were arrested recently from Bamiyan.

Cooperation center for Afghanistan
4, P/1, Phase IV, Main Road Opposite PDA, Hayatabad,
Peshawar, Pakistan

tel: 92-91-816286/ 815647
Fax: 92-91-816386 

Killing and Arresting of Civilians in Bamyan

 ( An overview of Human Rights situation in Bamyan from September 1998 to middle of May 1999) 

Introduction:

Bamyan located in the central highland of Afghanistan called Hazarajat, is populated mostly by Hazaras. Bamyan city was the stronghold of Hizb-Wahdat up to September 1998. On 13 September Hizb-Wahdat forces defeated by the Taliban after losing Mazar-e Sharif city. It was reported the Hizb Wahdat left 30 Taliban prisoners who were held in Bamyan prison while leaving the city.

During its rule over Hazarajat particularly Bamyan , Hizb-e-Wahdat failed to maintain law and order properly. Their behavior towards Tajiks living in Bamyan center, Kohmard and Saighan district was not fair as hundreds of Tajiks preferred to leave Bamyan center during  1996 and 1997.

 Mass Killing during the Military Operation of  Taliban:

 The Taliban first time entered Bamyan city 13th  September, 1998 after short fighting on Aghrubut pass. On 15-17 September the Taliban launched search in Bamyan villages to find out suspect people. During their search they arrested and killed any male members of Hazara above thirteen. Arrested people were taken to desert and then assassinated. Sar Asyabb, Haider Abad and Syed Abad villages were among the villages, which suffered more.

 Some people were slaughtered herd and some bodies were cut to pieces. Houses were burnt or destroyred.

I was reported that dead bodies were scattered everywhere. Five bodies were found in Azhdar, three were behind guardroom of Bamyan airport and several bodies were found among trees behind new Bazar. Many people were killed from displaced families who were living around Buddha statues but following the capture of city they went to nearby villages.

 Reportedly Abdul Wahid and Maysam two workers of ICRC who decided not to leave their office were also killed.

Number of killed people per village during the Taliban search between 15th to 17th September 1998, as known by Cooperation Centre of Afghanistan ( CCA ) reporter is as follow:

It was on the second day of the Taliban presence in Bamyan, that two groups of non-Afghan Talibs based in Iranian Consulate building and Bamyan Laycee (High School) targeted the small Buddha by Tank and BM 40 Artillery. These shelling caused some damages in the lower part of its body. Then climbing the statue, they dug its head, filled it with explosive stuff and set it off. The explosion defaced small Buddha and created some cracks in its body.

Looting and Confiscation: 

230 Trucks ( Kamazand ten wheelers Trucks) were taken by different groups of the Taliban. The Taliban promised to return looted trucks but so far only two trucks have been given back to the owners. There were also reports of looting of the peoples household furniture and public properties.

Suspension as Preventive Measures:       (March 1999)           

Harassment's of civilians continued under the Taliban rule, which broaden the gap between the people and the Talib.

When the snow began to melt Hizb-e-Wahdat forces returning from their mountainous refuge, capture Yakaulang district. Taliban became suspicious about the affiliation of Bamyan people with the opposition forces. So they took around 550 people as hostages and transferred them to different prisons in Parwan, Kabul and Kandahar city. Among the arrested people were members of council, which was found by the Taliban, namely: Sayed Adil Kazmi, Paykar from Fatmasti, Natiqi from Kushkak, Shaikh Emami from Surmara and Shaikh Zaki from Kalu.

On 28 of March following an uprising the Taliban forces leaded by Mulla Abdul Wahid Ghourbandi destroyed and burnt the villages located  on the road between Sheebar and Bamyan city including Shashpul, Ahangraan.

They also burnt Surkh Qool and other villages located in Kalu valley. People living in these villages were forcibly evacuated. Two Takya Khanas (Mosques) in Sar Asyab and Gurvana villages were also burnt.

Human Rights Violation By Hizb-e Wahdat: ( 21 April to 15 May 1999)

Suppression of civilian people in Bamyan resulted in reverse and prompted them to support the opposition forces. On April 21 the Taliban  were forced to retreat from Bamyan  in the face of of an offensive by the forces of Hizb-e Wahdat.

Hizb Wahdat forces had the control of Bamyan for three weeks. It was reported that they arrested  11 drivers and 25 passengers that were passing by through Bamyan on the road from Behsood to Bamyan. They were arrested  because of their  ethnicity. ( They released by the  Taliban on May  9^th. When they recaptured Bamyan).

 Atrocities during the second military operation of the Taliban  May 9^th and onward:

The fall of Bamyan to the opposition considered a big set back to the Taliban. Therefore the Taliban massed four thousand  troops for recapturing of Bamyan. The operation was leaded by high ranking commanders of Taliban  including Maulavi Abdul Kabir Deputy to the acting Shura. Mulla brother Akhund, head of the East-West zone , Mulla Fazal Akhund, chief of military corps and Mulla Abdul Wahid, Ghourbandi - a frontline commander.

The Taliban retook the Bamyan on 9^th of May 1999. Entering Bamyan city the killed everyone they saw. The number of killed people  is not known so far has been quest to be hundreds. Most of the population evacuated the city and took refugee in the mountain sides. They are facing seriously with hunger, weather in mountainous areas is cold and the land is still snow full. It was reported that a group of 150 people including man, woman and children have been taken as captives by the Taliban from Bersona village and have been transferred to Parwan province.

Yakawlang was also evacuated by the people for the fear of being killed or arrested by the Taliban. A few families could manage to reach Ghazni while some other have gone to Panjab or Behsoo districts. 

List of dead person has been handed over to Taliban's high command through Kamal Hussain, Special Representatives of Kofi Annan for Afghanistan Human Rights during his short visit to Quetta Alamdar road Sura-e Namak, and Mariabad. (Compiler)