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Location: Canada Posts: 5 | 6 yr old Afghan boy outwits Taliban (militants tried to trick him to suicide bomb)
TheStar.com - News - Afghan boy outwits Taliban Quote:
FORWARD OPERATING BASE THUNDER, Afghanistan–The story of a 6-year-old Afghan boy who says he thwarted an effort by Taliban militants to trick him into being a suicide bomber provoked tears and anger at a meeting of tribal leaders.
The account from Juma Gul, a dirt-caked child who collects scrap metal for money, left American soldiers dumbfounded that a youngster could be sent on such a mission. Afghan troops crowded around the boy to call him a hero.
Though the Taliban dismissed the story as propaganda, at a time when U.S. and NATO forces are under increasing criticism over civilian casualties, both Afghan tribal elders and U.S. military officers said his dramatic account convinced them.
Juma said that sometime last month Taliban fighters forced him to wear a vest they said would spray out flowers when he touched a button. He said they told him that when he saw American soldiers, "throw your body at them."
The militants cornered Juma in a Taliban-controlled district in the southern Ghazni province. Their target was an impoverished youngster being raised by an older sister, but one who proved too street-smart for their plan.
"When they first put the vest on my body I didn't know what to think, but then I felt the bomb," Juma said, eating lamb and rice after being introduced to the elders at this joint U.S.-Afghan base in Ghazni. "After I figured out it was a bomb, I went to the Afghan soldiers for help.''
While Juma's story could not be independently verified, local leaders backed his account. The U.S. and NATO military missions also said they believed Juma's story.
Abdul Rahim Deciwal, chief administrator for Juma's village, Athul, brought him and an older brother, Dad Gul, to a weekend meeting between Afghan elders and U.S. Army Col. Martin Schweitzer.
Schweitzer called the Taliban's attempt "a cowardly act.''
As Deciwal told Juma's story, 20 Afghan elders repeatedly clicked their tongues in sadness and disapproval. When the boy and his brother were brought in, several of the turban-wearing men welled up, wiping their eyes with handkerchiefs.
"If anybody has a heart, then how can you control yourself (before) these kids?" Deciwal said in broken English.
Wallets quickly opened, and the boys were handed $60 (U.S.) in American and Afghan currency – a good chunk of money in a country where teachers earn about $70 a month.
Afghan officials described the boys as extremely poor. Juma said he's being raised by his sister because his father works in a bakery in Pakistan and his mother lives and works in another village.
"I think the boy is intelligent," Deciwal said. "When he comes from the enemy he found a checkpoint of the ANA (Afghan National Army), and he asked the ANA: `Hey, can you help me? Somebody gave me this jacket and I don't know what's inside but maybe something bad.'''
Lt.-Col. George Graff, a father of five who attended the meeting, also teared up.
"Relating to them as a father and trying to fathom somebody using one of my children for that kind of a purpose, jeez, it just tore me up," said Graff, a National Guard soldier from St. George, Utah.
"The depths that these people will go to get what they want, which is power for themselves – it's just disgusting.''
A Taliban spokesperson, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, denied the militant group uses child fighters, saying it has hundreds of adults ready for suicide missions.
"We don't need to use a child," Ahmadi said by satellite phone. "It's against Islamic law, it's against humanitarian law. This is just propaganda against the Taliban.''
However, a gory Taliban video that surfaced in April showed militants instructing a boy of about 12 as he beheaded an alleged traitor with a large knife. UN officials condemned the act as a war crime.
Fidgety but smiling during all the attention, Juma said he was scared when surrounded by Taliban fighters.
He cupped his hands together to show the size of the bomb, then ran his hands along his waist to show where it was on his body.
A fan of soccer, Juma said his favourite subject in school is Pashto, his native language, but he also showed off a little English, shyly counting "1, 2, 3" before breaking out in an oversize smile.
Raised in a country where birthdays are not always carefully tracked, Juma said he is 4. But he looks older and Afghan officials said he is about 6. His brother appears to be a year or so older.
Maj. John Thomas, a spokesperson for NATO's International Security Assistance Force, said he was "a bit skeptical" about Juma's story at first, "but everything I've heard makes me more and more comfortable.''
| These days, I'm never sure what to believe as far as stories and information coming from the Middle East. My first thoughts while reading through this was that the story was, indeed, likely false. It seems NATO was suspicious of its validity of well. In any event, if it is true, which they seem to be comfortable saying it is now, good on that kid for being a nice example of humanity.
p.s. I quoted the whole article as I believe the articles on that site expire and are inaccessible after two weeks. |
Jun 27, 2007, 12:32 am
