U.N. Rapporteur Calls U.S. Drone Strikes 'Illegal'; Seeks End to Attacks (The Frontier Post, Pakistan)
"British
counter-terrorism expert Ben Ammerson, U.N. special rapporteur on the promotion
and protection of human rights, was appointed to conduct a probe. ... The
report shows as false the dominant Obama narrative - that drones in Pakistan are
surgically precise and effective, and that they make America safer. ... The
attacks are a clear and serious attempt to undermine Pakistan's integrity and
sovereignty. In near unanimity, this is what the entire world believes."
Baitullah Mehsud: The leader of the Taliban in Pakistan, he's thought to have been killed in a CIA drone attack in Pakistan's South Waziristan in 2009. Is he the exception that proves drone attacks kill more civilians than militants?
Because some 3,600 Pakistanis have been killed in about 365
drone attacks inside Pakistan between 2004 and 2013 - including 1,200 women and
children - Islamabad has long demanded an end to CIA drone attacks on Pakistan.
In addition, such attacks have created a huge amount of property damage,
particularly inside the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Pakistan's parliament, government, army and the entire
political leadership, not to mention the people of FATA, have repeatedly expressed
this demand. And from time to time, lawmakers from many countries, including European
Union MPs, have added their voices to those raised across Pakistan. They have all
expressed concern that the attacks constitute an assault on Pakistan's
sovereignty.
But despite this, Washington continues to reject such
demands on flimsy grounds, such as that the attacks are vital to U.S. domestic
security in particular, and global peace in general. Time and again, Islamabad
has asked Washington to share intelligence so that Pakistan can take on the militants.
This plea too, despite worldwide opposition, has been turned down, and the CIA
continues its pretenses. Running from pillar to post, Islamabad sought U.N.
intervention.
British counter-terrorism expert Ben Ammerson,
U.N. special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights, was appointed
to conduct a probe. Ammerson, who visited Pakistan unannounced between March 11
and 13, and after meeting officials and members of civil society, ruled that U.S.
drone strikes violate Pakistan sovereignty and called for their immediate
cessation. Mr. Emmerson held meetings with Foreign
Minister HinaRabbaniKhar, Adviser on Human Rights Mustafa Khokhar,
Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Defence
and Defence Production MushahidHussain, and other officials. He also met a number of
victims of drone attacks, lawyers for some of the victims and a delegation of
tribal Maliks
from Waziristan. He will present
his report during the opening of the 68th session of the U.N. General Assembly
in October.
"As a
matter of international law, the U.S. drone campaign in Pakistan is ... being
conducted without the consent of the elected representatives
of the people, or the legitimate government of the State. It involves the use of
force on the territory of another State without
its consent and is therefore a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty. ... Pakistan has also been quite clear that it considers the drone campaign to be counter-productive and to be radicalizing a whole new generation, and thereby perpetuating the problem of terrorism in the region."]
The drone attacks, which have killed thousands in Pakistan's
tribal areas, have been politically counterproductive. They are not only
inhumane but undermine respect for international law. Even American university
research opposes the strategy, blaming U.S. President Barack Obama for the
escalation of “signature strikes” in which groups are selected through what is
called a "remote pattern of life" analysis.
The research is categorical about the fact that this tactic
of intimidation has not made America safer. Rather, the spree has turned the
Pakistani public against U.S. policy in one of the most volatile regions of the
world. It recommends that the Obama Administration re-evaluate the program to
make it more transparent and accountable, and to demonstrate its compliance
with international law.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
The report shows as false the dominant Obama narrative - that
drones in Pakistan are surgically precise and effective, and that they make America
safer by enabling "targeted killings" of terrorists with few
downsides or collateral impacts. Instead, the study says the "people suffering
real harm” are largely ignored by government and media. As for Washington's
claim that drones are precise instruments of high-tech warfare that target only
senior Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders with few adverse consequences, the study concludes
that only about two percent of drone casualties are top militants - and the
rest were innocent citizens. The people of the area remember BaituallahMehsud, as he is the only notable casualty out of
the hundreds of drone attacks that have otherwise killed only citizens and
their women and children.
