The mythologies that espouse the “glories of war” have received another blow, as Amnesty International calls for prosecution of Hizbullah for war crimes for targeting civilians.
“Once upon a time”, warriors fought other warriors and Bravery was the considered the highest Virtue. Now, technicians devise ever more sinister ways to kill indiscriminately.
Civilian casualties are “excused” as “collateral damage” while “retaliation” condones all violations of religious and secular law.
We hope that all those engaged in war will soon remember the Geneva Conventions. They have obviously forgotten their own religious teachings.
There is no “Just War”. It’s just war – but there are Rules.
P.V.R.
Please see:
Israel/Lebanon: Hizbullah's deliberate attacks on Israeli civilians
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE020262006
GAERC: Put the Record Straight, Human Rights Violations on Both Sides Need to be Investigated http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE020272006
REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS
http://www.genevaconventions.org
The Geneva Conventions: the core of international humanitarian law
http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/genevaconventions
A few related articles
Hezbollah rejects war crimes claims
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C68DF0B8-23C4-4CC6-9A6C-F724A71F27E3.htm
AI: Israel committed war crimes
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A6266567-1680-4F9A-B496-E2ACEFDF1791.htm
Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon expected to be completed by end September: UN http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=19835&Cr=&Cr1=
Israel/Lebanon: Amnesty Urges EU Backing, notes Israel Rafalovich
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=2585&blz=1
Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories: Don’t Fire on Gaza Medics
Six Attacks on Palestinian Ambulances, Paramedics
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/09/13/isrlpa14185.htm
Nowhere to Flee; The Perilous Situation of Palestinians in Iraq
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/iraq0706
Sudan:
Civilians in Darfur held hostage to deadlock between Sudan and the UN
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR540492006
India: Impunity Fuels Conflict in Jammu and Kashmir
Abuses by Indian Army and Militants Continue, With Perpetrators Unpunished
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/09/08/india14159.htm
No impunity for war crimes
US administration seeking to amend the War Crimes Act
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR511362006
“Once upon a time”, warriors fought other warriors and Bravery was the considered the highest Virtue. Now, technicians devise ever more sinister ways to kill indiscriminately.
Civilian casualties are “excused” as “collateral damage” while “retaliation” condones all violations of religious and secular law.
We hope that all those engaged in war will soon remember the Geneva Conventions. They have obviously forgotten their own religious teachings.
There is no “Just War”. It’s just war – but there are Rules.
P.V.R.
Please see:
Israel/Lebanon: Hizbullah's deliberate attacks on Israeli civilians
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE020262006
GAERC: Put the Record Straight, Human Rights Violations on Both Sides Need to be Investigated http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE020272006
REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS
http://www.genevaconventions.org
The Geneva Conventions: the core of international humanitarian law
http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/genevaconventions
A few related articles
Hezbollah rejects war crimes claims
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C68DF0B8-23C4-4CC6-9A6C-F724A71F27E3.htm
AI: Israel committed war crimes
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A6266567-1680-4F9A-B496-E2ACEFDF1791.htm
Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon expected to be completed by end September: UN http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=19835&Cr=&Cr1=
Israel/Lebanon: Amnesty Urges EU Backing, notes Israel Rafalovich
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=2585&blz=1
Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories: Don’t Fire on Gaza Medics
Six Attacks on Palestinian Ambulances, Paramedics
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/09/13/isrlpa14185.htm
Nowhere to Flee; The Perilous Situation of Palestinians in Iraq
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/iraq0706
Sudan:
Civilians in Darfur held hostage to deadlock between Sudan and the UN
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR540492006
India: Impunity Fuels Conflict in Jammu and Kashmir
Abuses by Indian Army and Militants Continue, With Perpetrators Unpunished
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/09/08/india14159.htm
No impunity for war crimes
US administration seeking to amend the War Crimes Act
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR511362006