According to published reports, American military commanders are authorized to pay between $1,500 and $2,500 to a family that has lost a child or an adult. The loss of a limb or other injury is worth between $600 and $1,500; a damaged or destroyed vehicle, $500 to $2,500; damage to a farmer's fields is worth between $50 and $250.
While such amounts are sizeable in a country where the average daily wage is less than $5 a day, politicians, human-rights groups and ordinary citizens have expressed outrage at the policy.
"Afghans must seem like animals to the Americans if they can put prices on them," said Ismail, a 55-year-old Afghan businessman in Kabul.
"If someone killed an American and offered to pay $10,000, would they accept it?" he asked. "They destroy a complete village if one of their soldiers is killed, but set a price of $2,500 for an Afghan's life."
Source: http://www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2010/04/16/blood-money-angers-afghans.html#ixzz1FgTlmOcN
Now reported CIA asset Raymond Davis is facing trial for shooting two Pakistani citizens in Lahore and once again blood money is being offered as compensation. In stead of accepting payment the widow of one of the victims committed suicide by eating rat poison.
"I do not expect any justice from this government," said Kanwal in a statement recorded by the doctor before she died. "That is why I want to kill myself."
Kanwal also spoke to reporters after arriving at the hospital, saying "I want blood for blood."
And so it goes. And so it goes.
Be seeing you.
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