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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Kucinich Calls Upon ICC, UN to Examine NATO Attacks Resulting in Civilian Casualties

 from http://kucinich.house.gov/


United Nations and International Criminal Court Must Prosecute, if Necessary, Violations of International Law
Washington, Jun 14 -
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today wrote to Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, and Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, urging the United Nations and the Court to examine NATO’s expanded use of drone bombers, which have had a civilian casualty rate as high as 32% according to the New America Foundation.
“NATO has taken actions in Afghanistan not sanctioned by the U.N. and in Libya pursuant to a U.N. mandate which raise serious questions about military operations in those countries and the lack of accountability for the loss of civilian life.
“It is imperative that NATO and its commanders are held directly accountable under international criminal statutes for actions which place the lives of innocent civilians at risk.  The United Nations has an obligation under international law to ensure that military operations it has authorized are conducted in accordance with such laws.  NATO has repeatedly and wantonly neglected to follow the law.  The United Nations, if it is to continue to be a credible interlocutor among nations, has no choice but to conduct an independent investigation of actions taken by NATO and to pursue prosecution where warranted,” wrote Kucinich in the letter.

Posted by Kim Carlyle

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