The trial of seven soldiers involved in the shelling of the Afghan village of Nangar Khel in August 2007 is underway once more in a Warsaw Military Court.

The case, which began in February 2009 following an investigation, has been cited by a court spokesman as 'unique,' adding that “not since Vietnam” had a similar trial occurred.

Six commandos serving in the 18th Stormtrooper Battalion from Biesko-Biala are being prosecuted for manslaughter, and the seventh for “opening fire at an undefended civilian”.

On 16 August, 2007, Polish military vehicles came under fire in the village which is in the Paktika province of Afghanistan. Polish troops then launched 26 60mm mortar rounds in the direction of the insurgents but three landed in a compound where a wedding party was currently underway.

In July last year, Wikileaks released documents on the incident. One document said that “[The Polish soldiers] fired a total of 26 rounds according to one report. They fired over and then short and then three rounds impacted within a compound. One impacted on the roof of the house, one impacted in the court yard, and the last went through the roof and detonated within the house. There was a wedding celebration going on in the house, which explains the high number of casualties.”

Six villagers perished as a result of the attack, including a pregnant woman and a baby.

Accusations against the soldiers include that the attack was premeditated after they had come under fire earlier that day.

Defence Minister Bogdan Klich has previously described the incident as “a mistake”.

It emerged on Tuesday that recordings of conversations between the soldiers would not be forthcoming as part of the evidence presented to the court. Following enquiries at the Central Military Archive and the Operational Command of the Armed Forces, the court was told that such resources were not available.

Further problems have emerged regarding precise visualisations of the scene of action, with a military surveyor acknowledging that sketches are vague, prompting the notion of a site visit.

The accused hold that the failure to journey to the actual site in Afghanistan at the beginning of the case is a matter of outright negligence.

The trial continues. If found guilty the men face between 12 and 25 years in prison. (pg/nh)


Source: PAP