Obama Must Prosecute Bush-Era Crimes: United Nations
By Colombo Telegraph -
The United Nations says the United States has failed to prosecute cases of criminal acts among Bush-era officials, while insisting on the release of a report on its terrorism program.
Mahinda with George Bush
Bush and Mahinda
Ben Emmerson, U.N. special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism called on the United States on Monday to publish its findings on the CIA’s Bush-era program of rendition and secret detention of terrorism suspects.
“Despite this clear repudiation of the unlawful actions carried out by the Bush-era CIA, many of the facts remain classified, and no public official has so far been brought to justice in the United States,” Emmerson said in a report to the U.N. Human Rights Council.
He said that Bush’s “war on terror” waged after 9/11 led to “gross or systematic” violations involving secret prisons for Islamic militant suspects, clandestine transfers and torture.
Emmerson went on to criticize US President Barack Obama’s administration for failing to prosecute criminal acts committed under the Bush administration, while allowing “impunity for the public officials implicated in these crimes” by citing the “superior orders defense” and secrecy based on national security grounds.
Source agency reports.
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The sauce for the goose has to be served with the gander too! However, will this happen?
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran - March 7, 2013
9:50 am
Will allegations against the USA and UK (and other powerful countries) come onto the agenda of the United Nations Council? I can’t see any chance of it. This is the main reason why the UNHRC is fast sinking into the same state of degeneration as its predecesser, the UN Human Rights Commission. The fact that the media portray the Council’s various deliberations as “for” or “against” certain small countries such as Israel and Sri Lanka helps demonstrate that it has become just an international competition between the world’s powers where they can reward or punish their allies and enemies. A bit like wrestling in the Olympic Games really.
It also gives employment to thousands of people who like to pretend they are the “international community”. But apart from that, the UNHRC seems a complete waste of time and resources.
Candidly - March 7, 2013
11:45 am
It is time for Sri Lanka to initiate a resolution on this situation in the USA. In the UNHRC. Where is Navi Pillai?
After all nothing much has happened in the accoutability front in the USA. Despite massive violations of HR all over the world.
Ben Hurling - March 7, 2013
4:03 pm
Fine your suggestion! Does this absolve us of having committed absolute War Crimes?
gamini - March 12, 2013
4:01 pm
Whether it is a large powerful country like the US, or a small country like Sri Lanka, any war crimes and human rights violations MUST be addressed, investigated, and criminals held accountable. No country big or small should get away with atrocities, and war crimes. Stalling and refusing to cooperate only make them look more guilty.
Mimi - March 8, 2013
2:35 am
We need leaders like Venezuela’s Chavez in South Asia to thump the nose at the United States. Chavez rallied Latin American countries in an anti-US campaign and succeeded. The outpourings of grief by several Latin American leaders is an indication of his popularity because of his crusade against the US.
Sooner or later countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh will take cue from Chavez and become anti-American. United States used military men to seize power and destabilize Latin American countries. In Sri Lanka, United States is using LTTE remnants, NGO wallahs and TNA in its program of destablization.
Naga - March 8, 2013
11:48 pm
Now… we are talking. If that is done, the credibility of the Americans can be restored. Let’s see if this for real, or someone had too much to drink.
For the real Sri Lankans, today is a another beautiful day to take a deep breath, celebrate the absence of the Tamil terrorists and generously give thanks to the valiant troops and their families who fought fearlessly to the end, enabling us to take that deep breath.
And then, vow to accept and embrace all communities equally.
BunkerRat - March 9, 2013
2:08 pm
Living in Cloud 9, believing that MR won the War which was made possible with a Propaganda War, helped by these very violators of Human Rights. The only lot who paid with their lives are VP and the LTTE who were fooled, to believe they will be afforded a way out.
gamini - March 13, 2013
9:06 am
It is curious to see the logic of common criminals who say they are committing crimes because everybody else does so is what countries like srilanka too operate under.
Prithvi - March 11, 2013
1:00 pm
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kautilya - March 13, 2013
2:20 pm