The recent airstrikes carried out by the United States against the alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific drew sharp criticism from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. On Friday 31st of October he┬аsaid тАЬthey violate international human rights lawтАЭ and must stop immediately. More than 60 people have reportedly been killed in the continuing series of attacks since early September. Mr. Volker T├╝rk, the High Commissioner to the United Nation Human Right Commission (UNHRC) said in a statement, тАЬin┬аcircumstances that find no justification in international law,тАЭ
U.S. authorities have announced┬аa total of thirteen┬аair┬аstrikes,┬аwhich are known publicly, around Latin America┬аso far. Out of these┬аwith┬аin the Caribbean and┬аfive┬аin the Pacific.┬аThe Trump administration┬аtried┬аto┬аjustify┬аthese inhuman┬аactions┬аby claiming, without┬аpresenting any┬аevidence, that the targets┬аwere┬аdrug-smuggling тАЬnarco-terrorists.тАЭ Just saying that the operations are as part of its ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and terrorism, asserting that they fall within the framework of international humanitarian law, do not justify the inhumane actions. for some ulterior motive.
Daniel┬аNoro├▒a, Amnesty International USAтАЩs Advocacy Director for the Americas said, тАЬThe laws of war simply do not apply here.┬аThe┬аCaribbean┬аand eastern Pacific┬аare┬аnot┬аwar-zones┬аwhere the U.S. military can┬аbomb┬аboats the White House┬аclaims┬аcarry┬аenemies,тАЭ and also┬атАЬDeploying the army┬аon┬аalleged┬аlaw enforcement┬аgrounds┬аis an old and failed trick of the authoritarian playbook┬аthat┬аhas repeatedly led to serious human rights violations in Latin America.┬аThese air strikes also send a chilling message of tacit approval to other leaders┬аseeking┬аto┬аextrajudicially┬аexecute people.тАЭ┬аThe Amnesty international also urged the Congress to intervene and stop this arbitrary actions of the US Authorities.
Mr. Turk also said, тАЬBased on the very sparse information provided publicly by the US authorities, none of the individuals on the targeted boats appeared to pose an imminent threat to the lives of others or otherwise justified the use of lethal armed force against them under international law,тАЭ. The High Commissioner further called for prompt, independent and transparent investigations into the reported attacks by the US. He also added that the United States should investigate and, if is necessary, prosecute and punish the individuals accused of serious crimes in accordance with the fundamental rule-of-law, principles of due process and fair trial, for which the US has long stood.
Recently the UN Assistant Secretary-General, Miroslav Jenca, emphasised that all efforts to counter the drug trafficking must be carried out in accordance with international law, including the┬аUN Charter, and that any use of force in countering illicit trafficking must respect human rights standards.
It is also very pertinent to understand here that US has always cared for its own interest only. Be it Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yamen, Lebanon, Guatemala, Cuba, Congo, Somalia, Sudan and very recent ones, that is of Bangladesh and Nepal. If it needs natural resources of another country or want a favorable Government, I does, it has its cards everywhere.
