'Ad hoc claims system needs overhaul'
Updated on 01 July 2009
The compensation system for innocent victims of the conflict in Afghanistan is in need of an overhaul, says a leading human rights campaigner.
Sarah Holewinski, executive director of US human rights group CIVIC, which has interviewed both Afghan families and Nato soldiers on the emotive issue of compensation, says the system is too inconsistent.
She tells Channel 4 News that the "ad hoc" compensation payments need to better organised: "Beyond protection measures, appropriate compensation is one of the most important things that countries with combat troops can do at present; because if you don’t handle it properly you lose the people.
"That’s what we found from talking to Afghan families, that on many occasions the payments were not appropriate. This is a culture where payments for harm caused, even between neighbours, has been going on for centuries - so it’s vital.
"Many who receive compensation of an appropriate amount, or medical assistance, or materials to rebuild a home, etc, feel that their losses are dignified. That's absolutely worth the effort, and certainly to get the effort right.
"But each country is different. The British and the US do it in a systematic way but others do it on a more ad-hoc basis. In reality, each country is doing it differently, it is inconsistency upon inconsistency. We need a uniform system.
"There will always be some who want a proper trial and punishment for foreign troops, not just compensation; since most of the harm caused by troops is not a violation of international laws, that's a bleak hope.
"For the civilians that don't receive any compensation or try and fail (the base is too far away, they don't know which troops caused the harm, etc), we know they are angry."
