June, 14 2011, 12:21pm EDT
Kucinich Calls Upon ICC, UN to Examine NATO Attacks Resulting in Civilian Casualties
United Nations and International Criminal Court Must Prosecute, if Necessary, Violations of International Law
WASHINGTON
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today wrote to Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, and Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, urging the United Nations and the Court to examine NATO's expanded use of drone bombers, which have had a civilian casualty rate as high as 32% according to the New America Foundation.
"NATO has taken actions in Afghanistan not sanctioned by the U.N. and in Libya pursuant to a U.N. mandate which raise serious questions about military operations in those countries and the lack of accountability for the loss of civilian life.
"It is imperative that NATO and its commanders are held directly accountable under international criminal statutes for actions which place the lives of innocent civilians at risk. The United Nations has an obligation under international law to ensure that military operations it has authorized are conducted in accordance with such laws. NATO has repeatedly and wantonly neglected to follow the law. The United Nations, if it is to continue to be a credible interlocutor among nations, has no choice but to conduct an independent investigation of actions taken by NATO and to pursue prosecution where warranted," wrote Kucinich in the letter.
See a signed copy of the letter here.
Dennis Kucinich is an American politician. A U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1997 to 2013, he was also a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States in 2004 and 2008.
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