Saturday, November 15, 2003

French aid worker, Bettina Goislard shot dead

Bettina Goislard
Bettina Goislard (11 November 1974 - 16 November 2003) was a French employee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), assigned to its mission in Afghanistan.

She was involved in the UNHCR's efforts to help about 50,000 displaced Afghan refugees return to their homes in and around the city of Ghazni.

On 16 November 2003, while driving through the streets of Ghazni in a clearly identified UNHCR vehicle, she was shot at point-blank range by two men on a motorcycle. She was pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital some minutes later. Her two assailants were caught and beaten by a local crowd, and then taken into custody by local security forces.

On 18 November, the Taliban claimed responsibility for her murder, citing Goislard's Christianity as their motivation. Two days later, in accordance with her wishes, Bettina Goislard was buried in Kabul.

Thursday, November 13, 2003

Romanian Sergeant-Major Mihail Anton Samuilă

Mihail Anton Samuilă
Sergeant-Major Mihail Anton Samuilă, aged 35, died on 14th November 2003, after sustaining serious injuries when the Army convoy he was in was ambushed by Taliban insurgents on 11th November. The insurgents opened fire with machineguns and rocket propelled grenades.

The incident happened near the town of Spin Boldak.

Sgt-Maj Samuilă served with the 151st Infantry Battalion 'Razboieni', also known as the 'Black Wolves'.

Another Romanian soldier, Sergeant Major Iosif-Silviu Fogorasi was killed in the same attack. Both men were posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

Monday, November 10, 2003

Romanian Sergeant-Major Iosif-Silviu Fogorasi

Iosif-Silviu Fogorasi
Sergeant Major Iosif-Silviu Fogorasi, aged 33, was killed on 11th November 2003, when Taliban insurgents ambushed a Romanian Army convoy. The insurgents opened fire with machineguns and rocket propelled grenades.

The incident happened near the town of Spin Boldak.

Sgt-Maj Fogorasi served with the 151st Infantry Battalion 'Razboieni', also known as the 'Black Wolves'.

Another Romanian soldier, Sergeant-Major Mihail Anton Samuilă, was critically injured in the attack and later died from his wounds. Both men were posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.