Editorial
Drone strikes amount to 'war crimes'
Hundreds of civilians killed
A United Nations report released recently coincides with findings of rights groups Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which claim that US drone strikes have caused hundreds of civilian deaths in Pakistan and Yemen. Among those killed in Yemen were three children and a pregnant woman, while an elederly woman tending to her garden and a group of labourers gathered for dinner were among the innocent killed in Pakistan.
Known to the military as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems, drones provide troops with an 'eye in the sky', where piloted flight is considered too dangerous or difficult. While the US is most often silent on its role in drone operations and its legal justifications for its targets, it claims that such attacks command 'the highest level of attention and care'. The abovementioned reports, however, demonstrate otherwise. In fact, as the strikes may have broken international laws formulated to protect civilians, they may very well fall into the category of war crimes, Amnesty International has pointed out.
We strongly condemn these attacks, which are 'clear violations of international humanitarian law' and call for their prompt and thorough investigation and delivery of justice. No nation, just as no individual, no matter how powerful, is above the law; in fact, with greater power comes greater responsibility and accountability. Such crimes against humanity must end immediately and those responsible must be held to account.
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