The first 3 men, senior members of an armed faction that toppled the govt in 1997, are convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity throughout Sierra Leone's 10 year long war. A war crimes tribunal has found them guilty of eleven charges that included murder, rape and the utilization of kid soldiers.
The men belonged to the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council which fashioned an alliance with the notorious Revolutionary United Front rebels. It also looks that they were backed by the former president of Liberia, Charles Taylor who had is eye on diamonds.
At the tip of the conflict, 5 years ago, a court was founded to attempt those people who carried most of the responsibility for the crimes committed. Only twelve individuals which includes Charles Taylor, are indicted, and it appears that three of those have really died before facing trial. Charles Taylor is being tried in den Hague.
As much as I applaud these war tribunals and also the punishment being dole out to the folks accountable for crimes against humanity, I feel there's a selectiveness about the task. Some remote people in Sierra Leone are being tried. After all solely a few. Many perpetrators reside amongst the people they committed atrocities to and in front of. It virtually seems an empty gesture. A staged show, as the UN is telling us that the world cares about crimes of war.
Are there any thoughts to prosecute leaders accountable for war crimes, who happen to be leaders, or their representative like Defence Ministers, of world powers? Or are these leaders immune by virtue of the countries they represent. I suppose it'd be simple for the United States to block the UN. Once all the USA is the very best contributor of funds to the UN. One shouldn't bite the hand that feeds one after all those UN bureaucrats would be out of jobs.
Is there any difference within the actions of the rebel forces in Sierra Leone who were overthrowing a government and also the United States and its Allies marching into Iraq to overthrow a government. After all the United States did not use machetes to cut off hands and feet, because the rebels did. The United States uses bombs, guns etc. to kill and maim. Larger weapons as befits a world power.
During the Sierra Leone's conflict tens of thousands were killed because the rebel forces raped and mutilated defenceless civilians. These numbers pale into insignificance against the numbers of Iraqi civilians killed, maimed and displaced.
And yet I can be immensely shocked, in fact totally overwhelmed and speechless, if the UN backs a war tribunal to charge the choice manufacturers/leaders of the Iraqi war like Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Gen Pace for war crimes and crimes against humanity. And as for Bush, like Taylor who had his hand out for diamonds, Bush has his hand out for the black diamond, oil.
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Robin Perez has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in Crime, you can also check out his latest website about:
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