14th February, 2014
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"SERIOUS THREATS" TO HUMANITY? Part of the statement issued by the WCC this month. |
The World Council of Churches has issued a statement condemning the use of drones, saying they pose "serious threats to humanity" and set a "dangerous precedent" in international relations.
The statement – which was issued on 12th February by the WCC’s executive committee – urges the international community to oppose "unlawful practices and policies" around drones and mentions in particular "US drone strikes in Pakistan".
It urges the US Government to ensure justice for "victims of unlawful drone strikes" and to give compensation to the families of civilians killed or injured.
The statement says that the use of drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has increasingly posed "serious threats" to humanity and "dramatically changed warfare" over the past decade, bringing with it new humanitarian and legal challenges.
"The use of UAVs, first made operational in the Balkans war, has subsequently escalated in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia and most recently in Pakistan," it says, noting that since 2004, US has been engaged in an undeclared war in Pakistan against suspected militants or "terrorists" with hundreds of missile attacks from unmanned aircraft having been carried out against them.
"The USA”s ongoing use of drones in Pakistan”s territory is a violation of that nation’s sovereignty, as it is being conducted without the consent of the country”s legitimate government," it says. "As Pakistan categorically has stated that it does not consent to the use of drones by the United States on its territory, this is a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity."
"Despite arguments as to the benefits of the use of drones in reducing the risk of military casualties, it has been consistently observed that drone strikes are counter-productive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives and have human rights and humanitarian implications. Such strikes also set dangerous precedents in inter-state relations. As per international law, the drone operations by any State that involve the use of force on the territory of another State, without its consent, is a violation of a country”s sovereignty."
For the full text of the statement, follow this link.
– DAVID ADAMS
