Afghans vent anger at Canadians

Death of boy, 10, stirs support for bombers: Witness
Some want foreign troops to get out of the country

BY BRUCE CAMPION-SMITH
OTTAWA BUREAU

08/24/06 "Toronto Star" -- -- OTTAWA—In the tense hours after a Canadian soldier shot and killed a boy of 10, angry Kandahar shopkeepers voiced a chilling sentiment — support for suicide bombers who had just attacked a military convoy and a desire to see foreign troops out of their country.

That marks a dangerous watershed in the battle for public support, as Canadian troops struggled with the aftermath of a tragic day in Kandahar that saw the deaths of the boy and a soldier.

"They're very angry about that, the shopkeepers, the bakery man, all the people that are living in this place," said a Kandahar resident who was at the scene.

"They're angry and they get upset and they get out of patience, and they said, `Yeah, we support the suicide (bombers)," he told the Star in a telephone interview.

"We support them and the international community should leave Afghanistan. We want to build our country by ourselves," he quoted other residents as saying.

The Kandahar resident works for a non-governmental agency. He spoke to the Star on condition that neither he nor his employer would be identified out of concern it could impede their work.

The tragic chain of events began Tuesday when a suicide bomber triggered his explosive-laden car next to a convoy just outside the gates of a Canadian base in Kandahar City. The blast destroyed two vehicles, killing Cpl. David Braun, 27, of Raymore, Sask., and wounding three others. They are reported in good condition.

Two hours later, two Afghan youths riding a motorcycle "at high speed" broke through the security cordon around the bombing site and were fired on by a Canadian soldier.

The 10-year-old passenger was killed. The driver, believed to be 17, was wounded and remains in the military hospital at Kandahar airfield.

A defence department statement said the driver "failed to heed multiple warnings to stop. A Canadian ISAF personnel ... opened fire on the two in a defensive application of our rules of engagement."

Local shopkeepers were initially angry at the suicide bomber, whose attack also killed a young Afghan girl. But their fury quickly focused on the Canadians after the motorcycle riders were shot, the resident said.

"They have been telling me that they had better leave, all the ISAF, the security forces, the peacekeepers, they have to leave our country," he said."It's a very bad situation. It's dangerous and you can't trust anyone. The Canadian soldier had to do something but sometimes ... mistakes are made."

When approached by Canadian Press at his home, the father of the boy denounced Canada's military for the shooting.

He refused to speak about the incident or give his name. Several women in the family compound began screaming and crying, their fists shaking as they tried to contain their anguish.

Top commanders hoped to defuse the public anger.

"We are very sad at what happened and we express our deep regret and condolences to the family and community," said Col. Arie Vermeij, deputy commander of International Security Assistance Force Regional Command South.

Col. Fred Lewis, deputy commander of Canada's ISAF contingent, was concerned about a potential negative response. He urged people to be calm. "The message is that we're here to help them and we certainly would never want to hurt them."

Gen. Rick Hillier, head of Canada's armed forces, expressed remorse.

"It's always devastating when you lose anybody, particularly a child," he told reporters yesterday in St. John's, Nfld.

The military's National Investigation Service is to probe the shooting.

The general also expressed condolences to the family of Braun, who was based in Shilo, Man.

Last night, Braun's casket was carried onto a C-130 Hercules at Kandahar for the trip home.

Braun, 27, is the eighth Canadian killed in Afghanistan this month, and the 27th to die since Canada deployed ground forces here in 2002.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's statement paid tribute to Braun's sacrifice, saying, "While deeply saddened by his loss, I hope his family may find some comfort in knowing that Canadians share their sorrow,"

With files from Canadian Press

Copyright Toronto Star Newspapers Limited