Carol Anne Grayson (Radical Sister) blog

Former Taliban giving bayah (allegiance to Islamic State) AfPak group

TOLO News Afghanistan are reporting the alleged death of Hafiz Saeed, Islamic State (“Daesh” No 1 in Afghanistan) in a drone strike in Nangarhar according to intelligence from National Directorate of Security (NDS). The Afghanistan/Pakistan (AfPak) group of Islamic State are also referred to as Wilayat Khorasan. TOLO stated,

“Saeed was killed along with 30 others in the air strike in Achin district of Nangarhar, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) officials told TOLO news.

This was the third and the biggest attack against Daesh in less than a week after Gull Zaman, the group’s number 2 in Afghanistan, was killed along with his deputy, Jahanyar, in a drone strike in the same district.

Also, Mawlavi Shahidullah Shahid, a former Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman and the first one to pledge allegiance to Daesh in Afghanistan, was killed on Thursday in a similar attack in Nangarhar.”

However yet again there is confusion,

Habib Khan Totakhil tweeted,

A self-proclaimed commander of Da’esh Abu Talut Al-Khurasani dismisses report of Hafiz Saeed’s death & says “He is alive and well.”

Steve Herman, VOA correspondent in Asia, tweeted,

Confusion — apparently #ISIS #Afghanistan leader reported killed is Hafiz Saeed Khan, not Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.

Tahir Khan, journalist tweeted a contact saying,

Maroof sahib u posted wrong picture. This is Hafiz Saeed, chief of Jamaat-ud-Daawa, please remove it

Hafez Saeed Khan was allegedly the former Emir of TTP in Orakzai and defected to IS back in Autumn 2014 along with Fateh Gul Zaman who was purported to head TTP in Khyber Agency and Shahidullah Shahid (Shaykh Maqbool) who used to be spokesperson for TTP, see following link,

“TTP release statement regarding Shahidullah Shahid who has allegedly pledged allegiance to IS”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2014/10/18/ttp-release-statement-regarding-shahidullah-shahid-who-has-allegedly-pledged-allegiance-to-is/

To date there has been no official confirmation of deaths from Islamic State. However if correct, decapitating the head of IS in Afghanistan could well lead to “blowback”. An academic study by Max Abrahms (Terrorism Theorist at Northeastern University, US) and Dutch research fellow Jochen Mierau, “Leadership Matters: The Effects of Targeted Killings on Militant Group Tactics” concluded that, “when leaderships are threatened with targeted killings, militant groups are far more likely to attack civilians notwithstanding the potential political costs”.  They said,

“our statistical analysis suggest that targeted killings are particularly likely to result in indiscriminate violence when the leaders struck are both more senior and responsible for supplying tactical guidance.”

Study can be found below,

https://www.academia.edu/12423044/Leadership_Matters_The_Effects_of_Targeted_Killings_on_Militant_Group_Tactics_forthcoming_in_Terrorism_and_Political_Violence_with_Jochen_Mierau_

Links

“AfPak: Conflicting reports as to whether Shahidullah Shahid IS commander was killed in drone strike.”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/07/09/afpak-conflicting-reports-as-to-whether-shahidullah-shahid-is-commander-was-killed-in-drone-strike/

“Are IS gaining a foothold in AfPak: New release shows some allegiance in the region”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/01/12/are-is-gaining-a-foothold-in-afpak-new-video-release-shows-some-allegiance-in-the-region/

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Still from the Boko Haram video showing a soldier just before his death

Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram (whose name in the Hauser language means “education is forbidden”) has released its first video showing the decapitation of a regime soldier. The group originally known as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, Arabic for “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad” recently gave allegiance to Islamic State. The group was founded in Maidaguri, Nigeria in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf, a Muslim cleric. The group reject western education and alongside the mosque provide their own teaching facilities according to Islam and believe in Sharia law and the importance of Caliphate. In April 2014, Boko Haram came to the world’s attention when they abducted more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok town in the state of Borno. This prompted a “free our girls” campaign on Facebook and Twitter.

Back in March 2015, the Guardian reported Islamic State spokesperson Abu Muhammad al-Adnani as saying,

“we announce to you to the good news of the expansion of the caliphate to west Africa because the caliph … has accepted the allegiance of our brothers of the Sunni group for preaching and the jihad,”

This was later followed up with a recording from Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram who said: “we announce our allegiance to the caliph of the Muslims, Ibrahim ibn Awad ibn Ibrahim al-Husseini al-Qurashi,” referring to Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.”

Boko Haram militants stand over body of decapitated Nigerian soldier

The 10 minute video has a nasheed chant as background and begins with a firefight between the group and Nigerian military. The film features a small logo in the top corner of the screen as featured in Is productions. There are shots of dead soldiers and their identity badges and burning buildings. A soldier is made to kneel in front of 3 men whose faces are covered while guns are pointed at his head. He is then lain on one side, hands behind his back while his head is sawn off and placed upon his body. A slight reflex movement from the mouth of the decapitated head is just visible.

Today Reuters reports that “Boko Haram Islamist militants have attacked the northern Nigerian town of Buni Yadi, which they lost to a Nigerian army offensive in March”. There are also concerns that they may have “slit the throats of five civilians at a building site in the southern Niger village of Dagaya, close to the border with Nigeria” see following link,

“Boko Haram attacks northern Nigeria town: military sources”

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/10/us-nigeria-violence-idUSKCN0PK0TM20150710

Zacharias Pieri writing in “Boko Haram, Islamism, politics, security and the state in Nigeria (2014) had the following to say on Boko Haram:-

“it should be noted that even if the high-end estimate of fatalities directly or indirectly attributed to the Boko Haram insurgency were accepted at face value, they would still represent a small percentage of the overall violent deaths that have occurred in Nigeria over that same period of time…. According to UNODC data, Nigeria had 18,422 intentional homicides in 2008, the year after the violently contested elections…. Based on those numbers remaining relatively constant, Boko Haram would constitute approximately 5 per cent of all violent deaths in Nigeria since their peak in fatalities in 2009.”

Link

“Who are Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamists”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13809501

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Shahidullah Shahid (Shaykh Maqbool) … conflicting media reports confuse as to whether dead or alive? (Image, EAP)

The usual confusion surrounds the latest news on deaths by US drone strikes.

TOLO News (Afghanistan) tweeted,

BREAKING: Shahidullah Shahid, leader of Daesh in Afghanistan and former Pakistani Taliban spokesman, killed in Nangarhar drone attack: NDS

Adnan Bitani, researcher and journalist in Pakistan covering Tribal Area of Waziristan sent his tweet alleging Shahidullah (also known as Shaykh Maqbool) may not have been hit. Another person named as a possible drone casualty was Fateh Gulzman.

source confirm the #IS commander & #TTP ex chief 0f KhyberAgency #FatehGulzman killed in tht Drone strike #SHahidullah Shahid z in safe mode

Saleem Mehsud tweeted the following with photo,

ISIS Khurrassan Shura Amir Commander #ShahidullahShahid, #Gulzaman #JihadYar killed in #Nato bombing and #US drone

Samaa TV reported,

According to Afghan media, Shahidullah Shahid had joined ISIS and was killed in a missile strike along with 52 other ISIS militants.

Shahidullah among those giving bayah (allegiance) to IS (Still from IS video)

Back in October 2014, Shahidullah along with 5 other militants was reported to have defected from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) and gave commitment to show allegiance to Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Qureshi al Hussaini, Emir of Islamic State. See following link,

“TTP release statement regarding Shahidullah Shahid who has pledged allegiance to IS”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2014/10/18/ttp-release-statement-regarding-shahidullah-shahid-who-has-allegedly-pledged-allegiance-to-is/

He joined Wilayat Khorasan (AfPak Province) of IS and was later seen in a video giving bayah in which a Pakistani soldier was beheaded with a sword. See link,

“Is IS gaining a foothold in Pakistan?”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/01/12/are-is-gaining-a-foothold-in-afpak-new-video-release-shows-some-allegiance-in-the-region/

On a number of occasions “official sources” have declared militants dead numerous times only for them to reappear on a video 2 weeks later. The US often appears not to know whose life they have terminated and are extremely reluctant to give names. The numbers of alleged killed today in drone/ NATO bombing range from 5 to 52 in the press adding a great deal more confusion as to the real situation on the ground. The focus is on Shahidullah but who are the others terminated in the latest drone strike?

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Murree, venue for “Pakistani- brokered peace talks” (Image Dawn)

End

The above is a posting from Dr. Hameedullah Zabuli, Islamic Emirate (Afghanistan)

Links

“The muddle of Murree: Taliban talks more hype than hope as statement is released”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/07/08/the-muddle-of-murree-taliban-talks-more-hype-than-hope-as-statement-is-released/

“Afghanistan: Talks with the Taliban in Pakistan… does the Taliban know?”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/afghanistan-talks-with-the-taliban-in-pakistan-does-the-taliban-know/

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Talks will have little impact on Taliban fighting on the ground unless relevant stakeholders are involved (Image, Mirror) 

Yesterday I reported on the news that the Official Account of the Office of the President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani – ARG had announced on Twitter that a delegation from the High Peace Council of Afghanistan had traveled to Pakistan for negotiations with the Taliban. See following link,

“Afghanistan: Talks with the Taliban, does the Taliban know?”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/afghanistan-talks-with-the-taliban-in-pakistan-does-the-taliban-know/

Today the media has been full of articles on a meeting of stakeholders hoping for peace which was held in Murree, a hill-station 60 km north-east of Islamabad. However, tweets from Abdulqahar Balkhi, an English speaking account affiliated to Islamic Emirate spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid appeared underwhelmed by events which suggested that so called “high-level talks” may not have met with approval of main Taliban leadership.

I asked, “are Mujahideen on the ground supporting negotiations? Will Azm (the Taliban offensive named ‘Resolve’) continue as usual?”

Abdulqahar Balkhi tweeted as follows,

Shahamat English (official Taliban publication) statement of Islamic Emirate #Qatar office rejects participation of any member/s 

I was guided to the following statement:-

Statement of Islamic Emirate regarding its political affairs

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan regularly undertakes reforms in its organizational structure and officials’ capacities to further its political objectives. Such organizational reforms have been the norm in Islamic Emirate’s policies since the Islamic Movement’s inception.

On this basis, from now onwards all of Islamic Emirate’s foreign and internal political affairs are entrusted to the Islamic Emirate’s Political Office as their sole responsibility. The Political Office has full capacity and agency powers to conduct or postpone, in light of Islamic principles and national interests, negotiations with internal and foreign parties wherever and whenever it deems suitable.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

21/09/1436 Hijri Lunar

17/04/1394 Hijri Solar          08/07/2015 Gregorian

——————–

I was also referred to the following NunnAsia article (Urdu) http://www.nunn.asia/48766/%DA%89%D8%A7%DA%A9%D9%BC%D8%B1-%D9%86%D8%B9%DB%8C%D9%85-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF%DA%AB-%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%BE%D9%87-%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%88-%DA%A9%DB%90/

Balkhi continued tweeting,

negotiations, talks, all political affairs will be made public by the Islamic Emirate as previously announced in statements

Islamic Emirate does not believe in talks/negotiations behind curtains, Muslims/Afghans have the right to know what is happening

Balkhi then posted the following New York Times article,

The above article was accompanied by the following tweet,

Taliban’s official political office in Qatar “not authorized” “hijacked”

The muddle of Murree…

So back to the muddle of Murree. Who was there? The Wall Street Journal reported than an eight-member Afghan delegation had arrived in the capital “headed by Mullah Abbas Akhund, who served as health minister when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.” Hekmat Khalil Karzai, deputy minister of foreign affairs and a relative of former Afghan President Hamid Karzai was also believed to be in attendance. According to WSJ other participants included, “Haji Din Mohammad, an adviser to the Afghan president, and Mohammad Asem, governor of Afghanistan’s Parwan province and a close aide to Abdullah Abdullah, Mr. Ghani’s coalition partner.” Observers from the US and China were also said to be present.

According to Al Jazeera, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s office confusingly hailed talks as a “breakthrough” and warned efforts should be made to ensure “that nobody tries to derail this process”. If you are going to talk peace with the Taliban you have to enter in discussion with those who control what is happening on the ground. Its pointless talking about “engendering trust” and “confidence building” without all the relevant stakeholders. Given the Taliban statement and most recent comments, it does not seem there is a meaningful process yet started to actually derail.

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Politicians evacuating the building after Taliban attacked parliament on 22nd June (image Faryab MP)

Today the Official Account of the Office of the President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani – ARG announced on Twitter that a delegation from the High Peace Council of Afghanistan has traveled to Pakistan for negotiations with the Taliban. A surprising announcement given that Islamic Emirate spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for an attack on the parliament building in Kabul which included a suicide bomber, rocket attack and around 7 gunmen on 22nd June 2015. See following link,

“Afghanistan Taliban attack parliament during live TV broadcast”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/06/22/afghanistan-taliban-attack-parliament-in-kabul-during-live-tv-broadcast/

In recent months there has been much speculation on so called “peace talks” in western media with few bothering to check with the Taliban themselves. To date there has been no official response from Islamic Emirate spokesperson.

In the past some events that Taliban individuals or delegations have attended for general interest purposes as a routine matter have at times been misrepresented as “peace talks” or  so called “talks” have been held with those distance from Taliban leadership with little knowledge of what is happening on the ground and were therefore deemed meaningless. Islamic Emirate has mocked a number of media reports alleging “negotiations” as it was the first time they themselves were hearing of these initiatives.

At the yearly launch of the Taliban Spring offensive “Azm” (Resolve, Perseverance or Determination) which began on 24^thApril 2015 Taliban stated,

“for the complete liberation of our beloved homeland from the yoke of foreign occupation and for the implementation of Islamic rule throughout the country, the Islamic Emirate is determined to prolong the ongoing Jihad against the foreign invaders as well as their internal stooges.”

This year has seen a ferocious campaign with Taliban gaining ground in some areas. There have been multiple bombings and assassinations and no break for the holy month of Ramadan. On June 24th Islamic Emirate released a translation of a statement delivered by the head of the Political Office of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Oslo Conference (Forum) here is an extract relating to lack of direct talks with the Afghan government, 

“I would like to clarify and renounce, to the present Afghans in our native Pashto language, the wrong perception that instead of reconciling with Afghans, the Islamic Emirate is negotiating with foreigners. For the last five years, due to some relaxation in the circumstances, the Islamic Emirate has initiated a series of meetings with various Afghan individuals and circles. Several sessions have been held and the process is incessant. The reason for not holding direct talks with the Kabul administration is their lack of authority in solving strategic issues as the essential element of the present Afghan dilemma and various other issues is America and her foreign allies. It is a bitter fact which should be realized.”

In a statement posted on July 5th, 2015 Islamic Emirate were highly critical of alleged human rights abuses under the Ghani government stating,

“If we look into the realities we will find that from the beginning of the establishment of Kabul Administration until now they have not only violated laws of war but have also defied all human and Islamic rules and values. This situation is still continuing. Their military plans and personnel which take roots from western training are not committed to any human, Islamic and national values nor do they feel any sense of responsibility. They are involved in human atrocities, violence, immoral acts and in the use and trafficking of drugs. They are blood-thirsty and get pleasure staining people in their blood.

It shows the real face of Ashraf Ghani who utters palatable and appealing assertions about peace, prosperity and rule of law but practically is silent in front of such war crimes which take place under the hierarchy of his command. It also exposes the fact who in reality is responsible for most of the civilian casualties?”

It will be surprising if the Taliban have had a change of heart regarding direct talks in so short a time. According to DAWN the US administration is responding positively to the possibility of negotiations. DAWN quoted White House spokesman Josh Earnest as saying, “this is an important step toward advancing prospects for a credible peace.”

However until Islamic Emirate has issued an official response to the announcement, I fear the Afghan government statement on “negotiations” may be little more than wishful thinking. If this information is in fact correct, it will indeed be progress.

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Aftermath of Saudi bombing, Yemen (image via Nasser Arrabyee)

Graphic video footage and photographs have appeared on social media today purporting to show the aftermath of a Saudi Arabian airstrike on Yemen. The Saudi government are targeting Houthis, a Shiite rebel group from northern Yemen, strikes have been ongoing for months.

Yesterday 6th July 2015, there were reports of a Saudi bombing which hit a livestock market in the Fayoush district, Lahj province in the south of the country. Associated Press alleged there were at least 45 dead and more than 50 wounded. Images posted on social media by Nasser Arrabyee, a journalist and film-maker from Sanaa claim to show bombing of a cattle market in Lahj, South Yemen on Monday “which killed 50 shoppers and injured others”. He also tweeted photos claiming a Saudi jet had bombed a vegetable market in Amran, North Yemen which allegedly” killed more than 40 people” with others injured, again on Monday.”

Poignant images show the remains of what appear to be shoppers and store-holders torn apart as they went about their daily business. People and animals were struck down alike with locals left to collect the body parts and swill away pools of congealing blood. A video shows the extent of horrific injuries as covers are thrown back to reveal mutilated corpses, the wounded lie in shock awaiting treatment.

Yemen is being supported by the US but there is very little cover in the media. As Glenn Greenwald reports, “because these deaths of innocents are at the hands of the US government and its despotic allies, it is very predictable how they will be covered in the U.S. None of the families will be profiled in American media; it’ll be very surprising if any of their names are mentioned.”

Reuters news agency reported that,

“Saudi-led coalition air strikes and clashes killed at least 176 fighters and civilians in Yemen on Monday, residents and media run by the Houthi movement said, the highest daily toll since the Arab air offensive began more than three months ago.”

Last week the UN designated the war in Yemen “a Level 3 humanitarian crisis” the most severe category which places the country on the same level as Syria. As far back as April, one month after strikes began, Said Boumedouha, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme called for an urgent investigation into the Saudi Arabian-led campaign of airstrikes across Yemen stating,

“the month-long campaign of air strikes carried out by Saudi Arabia and its allies has transformed many parts of Yemen into a dangerous place for civilians. Millions of people have been forced to live in a state of utter terror, afraid of being killed at home. Many feel they are left with no choice but to move away from their destroyed villages to an uncertain future.”

Nasser Arrabyee, tweeted the following words accompanied by a series of GRAPHIC photos,

Saudi war criminals jets killed more than 120 Yemeni civilians including women & children in bombings in many places on Monday

Saudi war criminals killed more than 50 shoppers & injured dozens in cattle market in Lahj South Yemen Monday1

Saudi war criminals jets killed more than 40 people & injured N vegetable market in Amran North Yemen Monday1

This is how Saudi war criminals want humans 2 be with approval from all! Killing hundreds of Yemen shoppers1

Haykal Bafana, a lawyer from Yemen tweeted,

Ramadhan truce in #Yemen? Not yet, 9 days of fasting left. Over 100 civilians killed in #Saudi airstrikes today in Lahj & Amran.

Disgusting criminal act in #Yemen : GRAPHIC Video of 40 civilians killed in #Saudi airstrike on Amran souq today. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gtnj9hGcp80 …

Medecins San Frontiere, an international medical organization providing support in the country reported on 25th June that it had received more than 3,800 injured war wounded since 19 March 2015. Ban ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations has called for Saudi airstrikes to cease but there appears to be no let up in the bombing despite this being the Holy month of Ramadan.

On June 30th Human Rights Watch issued a report and press release stating that Saudi airstrikes inflicted on Saada City, in northern Yemen since April 2015 appeared to be in violation of the laws of war, they said,

“the 47-page report, “Targeting Saada: Unlawful Coalition Airstrikes on Saada in Yemen,” documents a dozen airstrikes on the Houthi stronghold that destroyed or damaged civilian homes, five markets, a school, and a petrol station, though there was no evidence these sites were being used for military purposes. These strikes killed 59 people, reported to have been civilians between April 6 and May 11. At least 35 children were among those killed.”

Links 

“Today’s civilian crisis in Yemen will be ignored because US and its allies are responsible”

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/07/06/civilian-deaths-yemen-will-ignored/

Carol AnneGrayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

11 hours and we’re here stopping the manufacturers of murderous drones at #blockthefactory #Kent #StopArmingIsrael (Block The Factory)

Pro-Palestinian activists claim for the second year in a row to have closed down an Elbit factory at Shenstone, Staffordshire where parts are produced for Israel’s military drone industry. There was similar action at additional sites owned by Israel’s biggest arms company Elbit Systems, they were Elbit’s Elite KL factory Tamworth, Staffordshire and at Instro Precision, Broadstairs, Kent which were also under occupation. Hundreds turned out for event despite an injunction being served for one of the sites. On the other side of the world, Australian protesters braved the cold weather in solidarity to shut down the Elbit drone factory in Melbourne, see Links section for separate article.

Campaigners are following on from the success of their 2014 campaign which saw protesters from London Palestine Action take over the rooftop at the Shenstone site and halt business for the day. See link for last year’s activities,

“Stop Arming Israel: Anti-drone protesters occupy Shenstone in solidarity with Gaza”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/stop-arming-israel-anti-drone-protesters-occupy-shenstone-in-solidarity-with-gaza/

It is a now a year since a brutal Israel assault bombarded civilians in the Gaza Strip causing terrible injuries and significant loss of life in actions which many human rights groups allege are “war crimes”. Block The Factory website states, “according to the UN, during its attack on Gaza last summer, Israel killed over 2,200 Palestinians including more than 500 children. Approximately 11,000 people were injured, including 1,000 children left with permanent disabilities. An estimated 18,000 homes were destroyed or severely damaged, making 100,000 people homeless.” The use of armed drones which inflict considerable “collateral damage” is supported by the UK government and protesters are repeating their call for Britain to “Stop Arming Israel”. A posting on the website read,

07:30 – BLOCK THE FACTORY GOES GLOBAL

Elbit Systems factories in Broadstairs Kent, Tamworth and Shenstone in Staffordshire, and Melbourne Australia are all under occupation or are blocked. Please follow the Twitter feed for more information.

The action begins

Elly Hassan, from London Palestine Action, one of the groups co-ordinating today’s ‘Block the Factory’ actions, said:

‘UK government data shows that drone engines manufactured here are exported to Israel. These Israeli-owned factories are very much a part of Israel’s brutal regime of apartheid and settler-colonialism over the Palestinian people.’

‘Israel was only able to massacre 2,200 Palestinians in Gaza last summer because factories like these are allowed to operate and because governments such as the UK government continue to allow arms exports to Israel.’

‘People have come here from all over the country to show their solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality and to demand that the UK government imposes a two-way military embargo on Israel.’

‘Today in Shenstone we are transforming the space around the UEL arms factory, converting it from a site of destruction into a fun, creative and child-friendly environment. We’re creating a space that meets our needs and not the needs of Israeli and multinational corporations that export death for profit.’

‘We urge people that share our opposition to Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people to join the growing movement for a boycott of Israel.’

Full statement can be read here,

https://www.blockthefactory.org/

Protesters lay on the roads to stop access to the factory site while others tied ribbons in remembrance of those killed in drone strikes.

Remembering the dead killed by drone strikes

Block the Factory tweeted,

One blank ribbon for an unknown Gazan child killed by Israel one year ago #blockthefactory Kent #StopArmingIsrael

Novara Wire have written an article detailing reasons why Elbit should be closed down, see following link,

“Stop Arming Israel 6 reasons to block the factory”

http://wire.novaramedia.com/2015/07/stoparmingisrael-6-reasons-to-block-the-factory/

Yvonne Ridley tweeting from the site had a message for the drone factory stating,

If you sell Israeli drones we’ll close you down Elbit. #blockthefactory

Police manhandled protesters and some arrests were made at the site

Chris Cole, who runs website Drone Wars UK, tweeted,

Took this before being arrested. #blockthefactory. Currently being driven to police station. Tamworth?

Virginia Moffat Chief Operating Officer for Ekklesia think tank tweeted an update.

Chris has phoned from Tamworth. Doing Fine. Police moved people off the road and suddenly arrested him.

Although some activists were bundled off to the police station, they had made their presence felt

War Resisters Int’l tweeted

Three Elbit factories in the UK and one in Australia have been shut down by activists #BlockTheFactory #gaza

War on Want tweeted,

We’re calling for a two-way arms embargo of Israel, starting with Elbit’s killer drones #stoparmingisrael

Just’d Murphy tweeted

Naming & Remembering Gaza dead on rooftop of #elbit #blockthefactory Broadstairs

Success in halting Elbit in Brazil

Campaigners in Brazil have had some welcome success halting business with the Elbit company through their demonstrations which will be encouraging to activists around the world. On 14th December, 2014, I reported the following,

“today, Rafeef Ziadah, Palestinian performance poet and activist tweeted to the world, ‘lets start the day with some good news: Major BDS win, Elbit Systems loses key Brazil deal over Palestine protests.’”

See “Elbit gets the elbow from Brazil pro Palestinian BDS protesters claim another success”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2014/12/03/elbit-gets-the-elbow-from-brazil-pro-palestinian-bds-protesters-claim-another-success/

Gaza devastated by the 2014 attack by Israel

Joe Catron drew attention to the fact that despite the devastation caused to the people of Gaza however the UK government was continuing to support Israel, he tweeted,

Britain approved £4mn Israel arms sales in months after Gaza war http://bit.ly/1JB20VJ  via @RT_com #StopArmingIsrael

Block the Factory tweeted,

Remember Gaza. Still locked onto gates of Broadstairs drone factory #StopArmingIsrael

War On Want tweeted a final reminder,

Activists have shut down Elbit’s Shenstone drone factory, demanding the UK #StopArmingIsrael http://waronwant.org/resources/arming-apartheid …

Now campaigners are waiting for the government to respond.

Links

“Australia shuts down Elbit drone factory in Melbourne in a protest to stop trading arms with Israel.”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/07/06/australia-activists-shut-down-elbit-drone-factory-in-melbourne-in-a-protest-to-stop-trading-arms-with-israel/

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Australian anti-drone activists had a somewhat cooler day of action than their fellow protesters in the UK as they wrapped up warmly outside the Elbit Systems factory in Melbourne with a message to stop trading arms with Israel. The protest marks the first anniversary of ‘Protective Edge’ where Israel attacked the Gaza Strip killing and severely injuring many civilians leaving some without homes and businesses destroyed in the fierce bombardment. Human Rights groups have condemned strongly the use of drones and allege Israel is carrying out “war crimes”. The action was part of a joint campaign effort with London Palestine Action who planned to shut down 3 factories in the UK, see following link,

Block the Factory, Stop Arming Israel,

https://www.blockthefactory.org/

Australian Press Release, Melbourne Palestine Action Coalition (MPAC)

Media Release
July 6, 2015
For Immediate Release

Pro-Palestinian activists shut down Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems, on anniversary of Israel’s ‘Protective Edge’ assault on GAZA.

Shut Down Elbit Systems Australia posted a series of Facebook messages detailing their progress and posted photographs as follows,

“We have locked down Elbit Systems on eve of first anniversary of Israel’s ‘Protective Edge’ assault on Gaza”

“We are 3.5 hours in to the lock down of Elbit in Melbourne and staying strong in the freezing weather.”

“Keeping our spirits high nearly 6 hours in to Elbit Blockade‪#‎ShutDownElbit‬ ‪#‎BlockTheFactory‬ London Palestine Action “

Philip Essaitchgeethree said that there were twin actions in Melbourne and London ‪to shut down Elbit “because Israeli drones killing Palestinians is not ok. And we won’t let these killers get away with it.” He requested anyone interested to join them at the factory and stated,

“we have shut down Elbit today .. serious business with seriously awesome people. 5 hours in and our two locked on legends CJ Wallace and Agnes Prest are still blocking the gates… with fire!

The International Human Rights Watch has asked the figurehead leader of the Kabul Administration Ashraf Ghani in a statement last Monday that he should not be silent versus the assertions made by his Army Chief, who said: “laws of armed conflict do not apply to his soldiers”.

According to the statement, the so-called Army Chief of Kabul Administration Qadam Shah Shaheem told his soldiers in Badakhshan province on 14^th June that there were no restrictions on the use of heavy weapons against Mujahideen and nor there is restrictions on night raids. The soldiers will not be sent to prison for they offer sacrifices.

The International Human Rights Watch says that such kinds of assertions causes civilian casualties. It is also surprising to HRW as to why Ashraf Ghani is silent in this regard while he considers himself as the supreme commander of the Armed forces. The HRW statement further says, this is not the first time that the new Army Chief of Kabul Administration gives remarks against laws of war but previously the Chief of Kandahar Police Abdul Razaq, the Police Chief of Baghlan Aminullah Amirkhel and Police Chief of Hisarak District Abdul Khaliq Maroof have also ordered his troops that whenever you detain Mujahideen, do not let keep them alive!

It is also worth mentioning that these commanders and the Army Chief are not the only officials who have given such remarks but some time ago the so called Interior Minister Olumi has also uttered such assertions.

This is not strange and unusual why the officials of Kabul Administration utter such assertions and their leaders are silent because they are committing such atrocities every day. The unusual point is that HRW asks Ashraf Ghani only to denounce the assertion of Qadam Shah but it fails to receive response.

If we look into the realties we will find that from the beginning of the establishment of Kabul Administration until now they have not only violated laws of war but have also defied all human and Islamic rules and values. This situation is still continuing. Their military plans and personnel which take roots from western training are not committed to any human, Islamic and national values nor do they feel any sense of responsibility. They are involved in human atrocities, violence, immoral acts and in the use and trafficking of drugs. They are blood-thirsty and get pleasure staining people in their blood.

It shows the real face of Ashraf Ghani who utters palatable and appealing assertions about peace, prosperity and rule of law but practically is silent in front of such war crimes which take place under the hierarchy of his command. It also exposes the fact who in reality is responsible for most of the civilian casualties?

Furthermore, instead of publishing of statements, the International human rights organizations and other related entities should extensively corporate Afghan nation and the Islamic Emirate for the obtainment of freedom and protection of human values in light of the ground realties. So, the Afghan nation would get rid of the nightmare of occupation and lead an independent and prosperous life under the shadow of their beliefs and aspirations.

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.