I am deeply concerned about unlawful US drone strikes, such as the one that killed Mamana Bibi -- a 68-year-old grandmother in Pakistan who was blown up by two Hellfire missiles while picking vegetables on her family's fields as her grandchildren watched in October 2012.
I demand accountability. President Obama should acknowledge Mamana Bibi's death and disclose the facts and legal basis for each of its drone strikes, and Congress should pursue a full, impartial investigation.
Why is this important?
In October 2012, 8-year-old Nabeela ventured out with her grandmother Mamana Bibi to do daily chores in their family's large, open field. Moments later, Mamana was blasted into pieces by a US drone strike that appears to have been aimed directly at her. Amnesty International did not find any evidence she was endangering anyone, let alone posing an imminent threat to the US. Yet a year has passed and the US government has not acknowledged Mamana Bibi's death, let alone provided justice or compensation for it.
We can't bring back Mamana Bibi but, through a process of accountability, we can stop the US government from committing unlawful killings with impunity.
Amnesty International USA