For three Italians from the humanitarian organization, the charges of collusion with the Taliban seems artfully constructed to remove them from an area where soon there will be a new military campaign. Emergency denounces the many civilian casualties. Experts conclude that the organization has been too superficial in its hospital security.

Kabul (AsiaNews) - Afghan newspapers headlined today with the story of the three Italian Volunteers of  Emergency arrested on charges of collusion with terrorists. AsiaNews sources in the country instead suspect a local government and British vendetta against the humanitarian organization, well known for its criticism of Karzai and the multinational force.  

The three Italians - Marco Garatti, a surgeon, Matteo Dell’Aira, nurse, Matteo Pagani Guazzugli Bonaiuti, economist, all three managers at various levels of the hospital in Lashkar Gah, in southern Helmand province - were arrested two days ago along with six Afghans accused of preparing an attack against the provincial governor, Gulab Mangal (see photo).      

The local newspapers give ample space to the arrest and charges. They do not speak of the "confession" which according to some sources Italians they made, admitting to being in collusion with the Taliban terrorists. The newspapers emphasize instead the hundreds of residents in area who yesterday shouted "Death to Emergency," "No to the Taliban hospital."  

An inspection by Afghan police, aided by British soldiers of the multinational force (ISAF), led to the discovery of explosives, guns, grenades and explosive belts for suicide bombings. According to government spokesman Daud Ahmadi, the Emergency hospital in an area of "heavily Talibanization", was under surveillance for over a month.    

According to many observers - who asked to remain anonymous -  these statements reveal  spurious aspects of the arrest and charges. "The hospital inspection was planned: they came and the found. Bull’s-eye. And why with all this surveillance did they not raid the hospital before? And were there British soldiers, whose presence was at first denied only to be admitted later on?”.

 

In fact the hospital in Lashkar Gah is a humanitarian centre that offers free medical services to the entire population caught up in a brutal war. In this effort, especially the Italian staff and the founder of Emergency, Gino Strada, are known for their criticism - sometimes ideological - of Karzai, the multinational troops, etc. ... at the risk of the humanitarian organization becoming involved in political issues.  

"It is also true - our sources say - that as a humanitarian organization that it is entitled to report the deaths of civilians in this war, there are many more than those mentioned in the official bulletins of the government and ISAF, and perhaps this puts them in a bad light. " For this very reason perhaps a "trap" was sprung to force their removal, just as a second wave of attacks against the Taliban begin.    

Among experts there is also another hypothesis: that perhaps the hospital was too superficial in evaluating staff. In a  "heavily Talibanized" area it is possible that groups of guerrillas have been able to use hospitals to hide their weapons.  

 

• afghanistan
• emergency
• arrest
• italian
• taliban
• hospital
• plot
• ISAF
• british
• troops
• gino
• strada