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The Pakistani military must stop its harassment of civilians from the Mehsud tribe as they flee the governmentrsquo;s latest offensive against the Pakistani Taleban in the northwest of the country, Amnesty International said on Thursday.br /
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The Pakistani military has refused to allow members of the tribe, some of whom are involved in the senior leadership of the Pakistani Taleban, to use major roads to flee the conflict zone, witnesses told Amnesty International. br /
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quot;Mehsud tribespeople, including women and children, are being punished on the roads as they flee simply because they belong to the wrong tribe,quot; said Sam Zarifi, director of Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s Asia-Pacific programme. quot;This could amount to collective punishment, which is absolutely prohibited under international law.quot;br /
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One Mehsud man outside the town of Tank told Amnesty International that he had left his home with his family after army bombing of his area last week.br /
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His family was part of a group of five families, constituting about 20 men, 15 children and 17-18 women with their luggage, who were travelling on donkeys. They were trying to get to their relatives in Tank but were afraid of the army because of the restrictions imposed on Mehsud tribespeople using the road.br /
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The man told Amnesty International:br /
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emldquo;We are not allowed to use the roads, the army does not allow any Mehsud to come to the road and use ithellip;When we left our homes we took some food which we used the first two days and after that we had nothing at all and what ever was left we gave to the children, we only drank some tea and water. We had to spend the nights under the open sky. As we were not allowed to use the road we had to walk in the mountainshellip;we lost our way twice.rdquo;br /
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ldquo;When we reached Murtuza area we hired a pickup and wanted to go by road as the women and kids were very tired and it was very difficult for them to walk any more, but when we reached near Korr there was an army check post where we were stopped by the army soldiers. They asked us why we were on the road, and said that Mehsuds are not allowed on the road. They made us walk back and away from the road, they also abused the driver, who was not a Mehsud but was from the Marwat tribe. He was first beaten by the soldiers and then they told him not to drive anyone from Mehsud tribe.rdquo;/em
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ldquo;The Pakistani government must immediately investigate this targeting of members of the Mehsud tribe by the army and put an end to it. The group has already suffered years of fear and oppression under Taleban control in their region ndash; the government should help to find a path for them to safety and a solution to their problems ndash; not exacerbate them,rdquo; said Sam Zarifi.br /
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Amnesty International recognizes the real threat posed by insurgents and the Pakistan governmentrsquo;s need to ensure the security of all Pakistani citizens. But restrictions on movement should be only imposed if they are absolutely necessary, are related to a specific security threat and are non-discriminatory and proportionate in terms of their impact and their duration. br /
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South Waziristan is the largest of the seven agencies within the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, with an estimated population of 450,000, most of whom belong to either the Mehsud or Wazir tribes. The population of the Mehsud tribe is thought to be around 300,000.br /
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International human rights and humanitarian law prohibit collective punishment. The prohibition on collective punishments is broadly understood to apply to official sanctions and harassment of any sort against persons for actions for which they do not bear individual criminal responsibility.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/ASA/pakistan-lower-dir-100a.jpg alt= title= /br/The government of Pakistan remains woefully under-prepared for a displacement crisis in South Waziristan as civilians flee the region following three days of heavy fighting, Amnesty International said on Monday. br /
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Tens of thousands of residents have escaped the conflict zone after Pakistan’s army launched a new offensive against suspected Al-Qaeda and Taliban forces on Saturday in the northwest of the country. br /
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Many are seeking refuge in the neighbouring areas of Dera Ismail Khan and Tank but Amnesty International research teams on the ground report a glaring lack of facilities to support the influx of displaced families.br /
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ldquo;The Pakistani government has to ensure the well-being of its own citizens, even when itrsquo;s fighting against a group with a record of violations like the Pakistani Taleban. There is no excuse for not complying with basic human rights principles or the laws of war,rdquo; said Sam Zarifi. br /
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Amnesty International understands that about 20,000 displaced people have been registered by the UN refugee agency in the area at one registration point alone, but as yet there is no camp to accommodate them. Many more are expected to arrive if the fighting in South Waziristan continues. br /
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There are no emergency health facilities for displaced people and local hospitals are full. There are also insufficient supplies of food and drinkable water. Most of the displaced have been living with host communities-often relatives or friends. br /
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Local officials imposed a curfew in Tank last week limiting movement between 6pm and 6am, while there is also restricted access on the road to Dera Ismail Khan. This significantly hinders the ability of people from South Waziristan to seek shelter in safer parts of the country.br /
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ldquo;The authorities must ensure that all civilians, regardless of ethnic group or background have access to adequate food, water, healthcare and shelter especially as the winter months approach. br /
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The Pakistan government has failed to prepare adequate camps where fleeing civilians could find shelter in an emergency and has limited its response to preparing six facilities for registering internally displaced people (four in Dera Ismail Khan, one in Tank and on in Pathankot). br /
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The government has provided registered families with automated bank cards giving them access to Rupees 5000 (US$60). br /
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Several displaced residents of South Waziristan told Amnesty International that local government officials had refused to register them indicating a possibly serious under-estimation of the total number of displaced people. br /
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Due to insecurity in the area, only one local nongovernment organization, FIDA, has been given the task of assisting the displaced. br /
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ldquo;Conditions around South Waziristan are even worse than in Swat, because few aid groups, whether international or local, are able to operate in this highly insecure area. Add to that the impending cold weather and the potential for a real calamity is quite high,rdquo; said Sam Zarifi. br /
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Residents of South Waziristan recently told Amnesty International that they had fled military operations in the mountainous areas of Ladah, Makin and Zahwarr. br /
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They said they were forced to travel through often treacherous mountain roads because the military has blocked the main roads in the area. br /
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The road blockades have aggravated local food shortages, also spurring people to leave their homes. br /
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South Waziristan is estimated to have a population of around 450,000 people, according to 1998 census figures. br /
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Amnesty International research teams report that between 90,000 and 150,000 residents of South Waziristan have fled the area since July, when the Pakistani military began a long-range artillery and aerial bombardment in the region.br /

The government of Pakistan must urgently prepare for a displacement crisis as civilians flee South Waziristan ahead of an expected military assault, Amnesty International said. br /
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Amnesty International research teams in the area report that between 90,000 and 150,000 residents of South Waziristan have fled the area since July, when the Pakistani military began a long-range artillery and aerial bombardment in the region. br /
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ldquo;The Pakistani government has to ensure the well-being of its own citizens, even when itrsquo;s fighting against a group with a record of violations like the Pakistani Taleban. There is no excuse for not complying with basic human rights principles or the laws of war,rdquo; said Sam Zarifi, Asia Pacific Dirctor for Amnesty International. br /
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Most of the displaced have been living with host communities-often relatives or friends in neighbouring areas of Dera Ismail Khan and Tank. Local officials imposed a curfew in Tank on Wednesday and have limited movement between 6 pm and 6 am, and have restricted access on the road to Dera Ismail Khan, significantly hindering the ability of people from South Waziristan to seek shelter in safer parts of the country. br /
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Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s research teams on the ground report that there are insufficient preparations for health facilities, supplies of food and drinkable water, and shelter for the displaced. br /
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ldquo;The authorities must ensure that all civilians, regardless of ethnic group or background have access to adequate food, water, healthcare and shelter especially as the winter months approach,rdquo; said Sam Zarifi. br /
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The government has failed to prepare adequate camps where fleeing civilians could find shelter in an emergency, and has limited its response to preparing six facilities for registering internally displaced people (four in Dera Ismail Khan, one in Tank and on in Pathankot). br /
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The government has provided registered families with automated bank cards giving them access to Rupees 5000 (US$60). br /
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Several displaced residents of South Waziristan told Amnesty International that local government officials had refused to register them indicating a possibly serious under estimation of the total number of displaced people. br /
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Due to insecurity in the area, only one local nongovernment organization, FIDA, has been given the task of assisting the displaced. br /
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ldquo;Conditions around South Waziristan are even worse than in Swat, because few international aid groups, whether international or local, are able to operate in this highly insecure area. Add to that the impending cold weather and the potential for a real calamity is quite high,rdquo; said Sam Zarifi. br /
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Residents of South Waziristan recently told Amnesty International that they had fled military operations in the mountainous areas of Ladah, Makin and Zahwarr. br /
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They said they were forced to travel through often treacherous mountain roads because the military has blocked the main roads in the area. br /
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The road blockades have aggravated local food shortages, also spurring people to leave their homes. br /
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ldquo;All parties to the conflict, including armed opposition groups, have a legal obligation to allow and facilitate the safe passage of impartial humanitarian assistance to civilians lacking supplies and services essential for their survival,rdquo; said Sam Zarifi. br /
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ldquo;It is essential that the Pakistan security forces, as well as anti-government forces, ensure the free and safe passage of humanitarian assistance to these vulnerable displaced people is made a priority.rdquo; br /
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In the event of a major army operation in South Waziristan, Amnesty International calls on the Pakistani military as well as the Pakistani Taleban groups to ensure that it takes the necessary precautions, as dictated by the laws of war, to prevent civilian harm and never intentionally target civilians or civilian objects. br /
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They must also take all feasible precautions to avoid, or at least to minimize, any damage to civilians and their property.br /
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Background br /
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A series of apparently coordinated attacks by Pakistani Taleban and affiliated militant organizations has killed more than 170 people over the past two weeks, at lest 80 of them civilians. br /
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On 5 October, the Taleban attacked the offices of the World Food Program in Islamabad, killing 5 people. As a result, international aid agencies have further restricted their operations in and around northwestern Pakistan. br /
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South Waziristan is estimated to have a population of around 450,000 people, according to 1998 census figures. br /
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In April, the Pakistan army launched a major offensive in northwestern Pakistan against the Pakistani Taleban resulting in the displacement of over two million people, the largest displacement crisis in Pakistanrsquo;s history.nbsp;nbsp; While many have returned to their homes at least temporarily amid continuing insecurity, more than half a million people remain displaced in the region. br /

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/ASA/pakistan-lower-dir-100.jpg alt= title= /br/p
emstrongnbsp;As President Asif Ali Zardari visits Britain today amid continuing instability at home, Amnesty International highlights one of the major challenges facing his government.br /
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/strong/emThe discovery of the remains of more than 160 victims of extrajudicial executions in Pakistan’s Swat valley highlights the ongoing human rights crisis in the countryrsquo;s northwestern areas.br /
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Amnesty International has received credible information about 164 cases of people killed, often shot at close quarters, since mid July, when the Pakistani Army regained control of most of the area from Taleban-affiliated insurgents.br /
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The intense fighting displaced more than two million people from their homes.br /
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quot;Many residents of the area blame the army for these deaths,quot; said Sam Zarifi, Director of Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific programme.br /
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quot;But our research also indicates that in some cases, it is the Taleban engaging in reprisals, while in other cases, it’s local and tribal conflicts playing out in an environment of ongoing chaos and insecurity.quot;br /
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Amnesty International has urged Pakistani authorities to improve policing in the area and establish an immediate and impartial investigation into the killings.br /
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The Pakistani military has established control over most of the major towns and major roads of the region, but Amnesty International research suggests that insurgents remain very active in more remote areas.br /
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Against this backdrop, the displaced are facing immense pressure to return to their villages in NWFP that are not fully secure.br /
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In some cases displaced people are being forced to return to areas that are not secure and that lack electricity, water and transportation infrastructure necessary for basic living and trade.br /
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Amnesty International has called on the government to immediately address the urgent needs of the displaced population, including for clean water, food, shelter, health care and education.br /
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quot;The government must ensure safe and suitable conditions for those who have returned to their homes so that returnees can live in safety and dignity, without threats to their security,quot; Zarifi said.
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