POLITICS AND SOCIETY
Zubair described how the village children always played outside, enjoying a game of cricket or football. But now their fear keeps them indoors. Children also have stopped going to the few schools that exist, which he says, “is a big problem as what everyone really wants and needs is education. But education isn’t possible as long as the drones circle overhead.” Nabila, a shy nine-year-old, spoke only briefly, yet the pain in her striking hazel eyes was evident and she cried several times throughout the hearing. She recalled how after she heard the missiles hit, “everything was dark and I couldn’t see anything, but I heard a scream.” “I don’t know if it was my grandmother but I couldn’t see her,” she said. “I was very scared but all I could do was run. I looked at my hand and there was blood. I tried to bandage my hand but the blood kept coming. The blood wouldn’t stop.” Rafiq powerfully ended his statement with the following words: “My mother is not the first innocent victim of U.S. drones. Numerous families living in my community and the surrounding area have also lost loved ones, including women and children. Dozens of people in my own tribe that I know are merely ordinary tribesmen have been killed. They have suffered just as I have. I wish they had such an opportunity as well to come tell their story. Until they can, I speak on their behalf as well: drones are not the answer. In the end, I would just like to ask the American public to treat us as equals. Make sure that your govern48
ment gives us the same status as a human with basic rights as they do to their own citizens. We do not kill our cattle the way the U.S. is killing humans in Waziristan with drones. This indiscriminate killing has to end and justice must be delivered to those who have suffered at the hands of unjust. Thank you.”
A MESSAGE FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA Rafiq said during his short visit he noticed that Americans live peacefully. “It’s a nice life, everyone enjoys being with each other and no one lives in fear,” he said. “And my hopes and dreams are that my children too can live in a similar environment in North Waziristan. I dream that my children will complete their education and will help rebuild Pakistan, a country that will be guided by humanity and peaceful means. And I think this is something
that both the Pakistani government and the American government need to work together to achieve.” Zubair added, “I hope that I can return home with a message. I hope I can tell my community that America listened. That America is not just drones that terrorize us from above, but a country that listens and is trying to help us solve the many problems that we face. And maybe, just maybe, America may soon stop the drones.” After all they have been through, Rafiq and his children expressed their hopes that one day they, and all others living under U.S. drones, can once again enjoy clear blue skies and a life without fear — blessings that so many take for granted.
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Aruba Mahmud is a freelance writer currently pursuing a doctorate in education at Western University in London in the province of Ontario, Canada. (NOTE: The author has based the article on the transcript of the testimony available online.)
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