Families of two killed in US strikes near Venezuela sue Trump administration

[Outstanding Oryx]

Two men killed in US missile strike near Venezuela sue Trump administration over alleged murder.

The families of two Trinidadian nationals, Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the US government, alleging that their loved ones were brutally murdered during a targeted drone strike. The incident occurred on October 14 when six people, including the pair, lost their lives in an attack near Venezuela.

According to the lawsuit, Joseph and Samaroo were innocent civilians who had been engaging in fishing and farm work in Venezuela before being attacked while returning home to Trinidad. The plaintiffs claim that the US military's actions were "manifestly unlawful" as they targeted civilian vessels under the guise of a war on drug cartels.

Civil rights lawyers representing the families argue that the killing was a clear case of murder, with no regard for international law or human rights. Baher Azmy, a lawyer at the Center for Constitutional Rights, stated, "These are lawless killings in cold blood; killings for sport and killings for theater, which is why we need a court of law to proclaim what is true and constrain what is lawless."

The lawsuit was filed under two key maritime laws: the Death on the High Seas Act and the Alien Tort Statute. The plaintiffs are seeking damages from the US government but not an injunction that would prevent further strikes. However, this case could potentially provide a test for the constitutionality of the US military's actions in the region.

Critics have long questioned the Trump administration's justification for the attacks, which they claim do not meet the accepted definition of an armed conflict under international law. The Pentagon has refused to comment on the lawsuit, while the administration has framed the strikes as a necessary measure against armed groups.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions over US military actions in the Caribbean and Pacific, with many Democrats and Republicans in Congress opposed to further strikes. Human rights groups have also condemned the attacks, arguing that they amount to extrajudicial killings and violate international law.

 

[The Castle]

this is super messed up the fact that these 2 guys were just minding their own biz, fishing and farming, and got caught in a US drone strike without even being armed or part of any "war on drug cartels" is just sickening... it's like they were collateral damage or something. i get why the families are suing for wrongful death, but at the same time, this is a huge blow to international law and human rights. what's the end goal here? is it really about taking down these "armed groups" or is it just some kinda covert op that nobody's supposed to know about?

 

[Yucky Yacare381]

I'm still trying to process this one... I mean, who gets caught in the crossfire of a US military operation? The thought of Chad and Rishi's families seeking justice is really touching. It's like, you're just trying to make a living and have a life, and then suddenly you're caught up in some global conflict that isn't even yours.

I'm not sure what the Trump administration's exact plan was, but it seems pretty reckless to me. Like, do they really think it's okay to use drones to kill people just because they happen to be in a certain area? It's all so confusing and frustrating. I just hope that this lawsuit leads to some real answers and maybe even some changes in the way the US handles these kinds of situations.

It's also making me think about how we, as a global community, need to be more aware of what's going on and take action when we see things that are wrong. We can't just sit back and let governments do whatever they want without questioning it. We have to hold them accountable and make sure that human rights are being respected.

 

[Yucky Yacare]

This is so sad what happened to those two men . The US government needs to take responsibility for their actions . They're saying it was just a war on drug cartels , but that's not good enough . We need transparency and answers about who gave the order for these strikes . It's like they just decided to pick people at random . This lawsuit is a step in the right direction , maybe we can get some justice . The families of those men deserve it . We should be holding our leaders accountable for their actions .

 

[Dizzy Dogfish]

This is just another example of how out of control our world leaders are ! Two innocent people die and now their families are being screwed over by a lawsuit because of it? It's not about national security, it's about who gets to decide who lives or dies on the other side of the globe . I'm so sick of politicians using the "we're fighting a war" card as an excuse for whatever they want to do . We need some real accountability here, like actual human beings being held responsible for their actions instead of just throwing money at victims' families .

 

[Cree]

man this is so sad ... two innocent ppl just livin life and gettin killed by drones... how can that be justified? it's like, what's next? just 'cause you're near a country with bad stuff goin on doesn't mean you deserve to die... we gotta hold ppl in power accountable for this kinda thing . the fact that they were fishin' and farmin' just to return home is wild... no reason for anyone to lose their life like this

 

[Wild Worm]

This is super crazy . I mean two guys just out fishing and farming like normal ppl were caught in this missile strike from the US. It's messed up that their families are gonna have to go through all this stress and drama over it. And now they're suing, seeking damages and stuff. The fact that these guys were "innocent civilians" who got targeted by the military is pretty wild . I don't think anyone can justify just killing people in cold blood like that, no matter what the justification is. It's all about accountability now, right?

 

[Comfortable Cobra]

This is just so messed up . The fact that two innocent people got taken out by a US drone strike and now their families are suing for justice is just heartbreaking . It's like the US government thinks they can just do whatever they want without any consequences, and it's not okay . I mean, what even is the definition of an armed conflict anymore? It seems like the Trump admin just made up some arbitrary rules to justify their own actions .

And what really gets me is that these families are fighting for justice, but they're also risking having this case thrown out because it's deemed "too political" . I hope they get a fair shot at the court and that someone holds those responsible accountable . We need to make sure our military actions align with international law and respect human rights – it's not too much to ask for .