By Alok Bhatt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Three soldiers and three foreigners were left dead as the result of further violence in Kandahar.  A suicide bomber drove a vehicle into the populated region of the city and detonated, creating a high-impact blast that scattered debris and blew out the windows of multiple buildings.  The home of the brother of Afghan president Hamid Karzai was also damaged in the attack, though it is unconfirmed whether or not he was the target of this particular attack.

An alleged target of the attack, however, was ascertained moments after the strike occurred.  A provincial leader divulged that the suicide-bomber intended to take out an establishment for a security company.  Though there do not seem to be any published reports on the success of the attack, this instance was the second such attack in the city of Kandahar occurring this afternoon.  The city centre suffered another explosion earlier on as a car-bomb exploded in the proximity of a hotel, wounding multiple people and destroying some shops and vehicles.

The spike in violence in Kandahar seems to have been spurred by the extensive Nato and US offense initiatives which have also been occurring in Afghanistan.  The Nato and US strikes have long been criticized for their moments of insufficient discrimination when identifying targets, resulting in unreasonable numbers of civilian deaths .  The nature of the insurgent attacks, however, is thought to be pre-emptive in nature, perhaps in anticipation of more strikes by the West.

The attacks in Kandahar also follow another strike upon German soldiers in the northern region of Afghanistan.   Opposition fighters in the province of Baghlan let fire off at four German soldiers near their military camp station.  The German Defence Ministry claims that their soldiers came under rocket-fire.

The continuance of these attacks, it seems, will only proliferate the Western presence in Kandahar, which has been identified as a pivotal territory for terrorist activity.  US-led forces have occupied the region since 2001, subsequent to the September 11 attack on US soil.  The blasts in Kandahar today signify only a couple instances in what has become a long strain of attacks which often claim the lives of many civilians.  The violence in Afghanistan, unfortunately, sees no near end if the current trends persist and escalate.

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeera – Many dead in Afghan in blasts – 16 April 2010 (Mecca Time)

BBC – Afghanistan  attacks kill Germans… – 15 April 2010

Sky – No Britons Killed in Kandahar Blast – 15 April 2010

By Michael E. Sanchez
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

YANGON, Myanmar- On Thursday three bomb blasts rocked a holiday festival killing nine people in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city.  The attack was the deadliest of its kind in five years in the country.  In addition, the attack injured more than 60 people.

An official said the blasts occurred as festival goers gathered for a New Year water festival in the former capital.  The blast occurred around 3 p.m. near 20 pavilions erected for celebrations at the Kandawgyi Lake.  During this annual four-day festival, the people drench each other with water to usher in the Myanmar New Year on Saturday.  A British Embassy representative in Myanmar told the news agency Al Jazeera that it was not yet known what exactly caused the explosions.

The television station run by the state reported that the explosions were caused by bombs, but did not say who was responsible.  Television images showed pools of blood and scattered sandals left behind by frightened revelers.  The television station described the blasts as the work of “terrorists”.  No group or organization has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet.

While State television stated that the death toll is at eight, a hospital official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity maintained that nine people were killed.

Witnesses say that Yangon General Hospital, where most of the injured were taken, was a scene of chaos.  According to a hospital official none of the casualties included foreigners.

Although rare, bombings are not unknown in cities such as Myanmar, whose military ruler are fighting several insurgencies in remote regions.  This was the worst attack since May 2005 when a series of bombs exploded at two upscale supermarkets and at a convention center in Yangon, killing 19 people and injuring more than 160 others.

The government has previously blamed bomb blasts on exiled anti-government groups and insurgents including ethnic Karen rebels fighting for greater autonomy in eastern Myanmar.

Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962.  The country is slated to hold election later this year, but no date has been announced and the generals have been criticised for regulations that prevent Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader, from taking part.

For more information, please see:

Aljazeera.net- Deadly Blasts Hit Myanmar Festival-15 April 2010

CBSnews- Bombs Kill 9 At Myanmar New Year Water Festival– 15 April 2010

Wall Street Journal- Myanmar Festivities Marred By Blasts– 15 April 2010