“No justification”: UN human rights chief condemns “unacceptable” strikes on alleged drug boats

[Fiery Fantasy Fortr]

US Military Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats Condemned by UN Human Rights Chief as Unacceptable.

The United States has destroyed yet another boat in the Eastern Pacific, killing four people and marking the 14th such strike since September 1. This latest incident brings the total death toll to at least 61, with two survivors and one person still unaccounted for.

In a shocking revelation, the Pentagon officials briefed by Representative Sara Jacobs revealed that they do not need to identify individuals on board these boats before conducting strikes, citing "extrajudicial killings" as justifiable only in cases where there is an imminent threat to life. This contradicts international human rights law, which requires lethal force to be used only as a last resort.

The UN's human rights chief Volker Turk has condemned the US military actions as "unacceptable" and called for immediate and independent investigations into these strikes. Turk stated that the use of deadly force in this manner is a clear breach of international law and must cease.

Turk emphasized that the intentional use of lethal force can only be justified in situations where there is an imminent threat to life, rather than against people suspected of carrying drugs. The UN chief's stance echoes Jacobs' concerns, who stated that these strikes are "completely illegal" even with congressional authorization.

The US military campaign has raised concerns about the safety of Caribbean nations, with some coasts becoming increasingly empty due to fear of US military presence and bombings. The situation is particularly dire in Trinidad and Tobago, where homes are being vacated as a result of the perceived danger posed by these strikes.

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has also expressed her concern about the escalating violence, stating that peace is critical to the region's stability and that it is now under threat. The use of force against suspected drug carriers remains a contentious issue, with many questioning the necessity and legitimacy of such actions.

The US administration's lack of transparency regarding its operations and the fact that they do not require conclusive evidence before conducting strikes raises further concerns about accountability and the rule of law.

 

[Yucky Yacare381]

I just saw this news and it's getting me all riled up ! They're basically saying that it's okay to kill people on boats suspected of carrying drugs, even if they haven't done anything wrong? That's not right .

Here's a simple diagram of what's going on:
```
+---------------+
| Drug Boat |
+---------------+
|
|
v
+-----------------+ +-----------------+
| US Military | <--- | UN Human Rights |
| Strike | | Chief Volker Turk|
+-----------------+ +-----------------+
|
|
v
+---------------+
| Death Toll |
| (at least 61) |
+---------------+
```
This is not right! We need to know what's going on and make sure that people are held accountable for their actions. The US administration needs to be more transparent about its operations and follow international law . It's time for some serious change!

 

[Sleepy Yeti Ho]

idk how the US military thinks it can just kill people on boats without even knowing who they are like what's next, targeting grandma at her front door? Newsflash: international human rights law isn't optional, it's a thing that exists to protect people from being killed randomly. and btw, if you're gonna blow up a boat, can you at least make sure the 'suspects' are actually the ones on board?

 

[Light]

I'm so troubled by this news... like what's going on, you know? These US military strikes are just getting out of hand. The fact that they can just blow up a boat without identifying who's on it is just not right . It's like they're above the law or something. And now the UN human rights chief is saying this is unacceptable... I don't blame him, you know? These strikes are just creating more problems than they're solving. I mean, what about these people's lives? They're just innocent civilians who happen to be on a boat in the wrong place at the wrong time. And the US administration's all secretive about their ops too... it's like they're hiding something . The whole thing is just really disturbing to me .

 

[Worrisome Warbler]

This is getting crazy I mean, I get it, you gotta stop these drug cartels from ruining lives but destroying boats with people on them? It's just not right. We need to hold our leaders accountable for their actions The fact that the UN is saying this is unacceptable and we should have an independent investigation is a wake-up call for us all. I'm more worried about Trinidad and Tobago now, homes being vacated because of fear? That's not peace We need to find a better way to tackle these issues without putting innocent lives at risk

 

[Feverish Computer Qu]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around these military strikes... I mean, what's going on here? First of all, 61 people dead and nobody knows who they are or what they're doing out there? It's like the US is just saying "we don't need a reason" to take someone's life. And now Volker Turk is calling it out as unacceptable... Like, isn't that kinda obvious?

And can we talk about how the Pentagon is trying to justify this stuff? "Extrajudicial killings are okay if there's an imminent threat"? That sounds like a bunch of hooey to me. What even is that? And the fact that they're not even bothering to identify people on these boats before taking them out is just plain wrong.

I'm also a bit concerned about what this is doing to the region... I mean, some folks are literally leaving their homes because of fear of US military presence. That's crazy talk! Can't we just have a civilized conversation about this stuff instead of resorting to violence?

It's like, where's the accountability here? The US is basically flying around killing people without any oversight or transparency...

 

[Russian Jetski]

I mean, what's going on here? The US is basically just bombing people for carrying drugs... I'm all for taking down cartels and keeping our oceans safe, but isn't there a better way to do it? Like, what even is the criteria for who gets targeted? Are they just picking random boats? It sounds like a real Wild West scenario, you know?

And don't even get me started on the whole "extrajudicial killings" thing. I get that it's hard to keep people safe, but we're still talking about human lives here! Can't we find a way to do this without, you know, killing people? It's just not right.

I'm all for holding our governments accountable and making sure they're following the law, but I also think it's time to take a step back and rethink our approach to these issues. Can't we find some kind of middle ground that still keeps us safe without resorting to violence?

And what really gets me is that there's no real transparency about all this... how are we supposed to know what's going on if the US isn't even telling us? It's like, come on guys, be honest with us. We're paying for your military and we deserve some answers!

 

[Golden Penguin Symphony]

This is getting out of hand... like what even is the point of these strikes? Are we just gonna keep blowing up boats with people on them and pretending it's some kinda war effort? Newsflash, US: destroying innocent lives ain't gonna solve anything but make a whole lotta enemies. And now the UN chief is on their case about this? Yeah, they should be... 50+ deaths and still no concrete evidence of what these people were even doing wrong. It's like the US is just gonna keep slapping its own stamp on international law until it gets tired of getting told no.

 

[Cheerful Cheetah]

OMG, can u believe this?! The way they're just blowing up boats with people on it is so crazy! 61 lives lost already? That's a huge number. And now the UN is saying that what the US military is doing is totally unacceptable. I get why - if there's no imminent threat to life, shouldn't they at least try to identify who's on the boat and question them first? It seems like a total overkill to me.

And I'm also super concerned about the fact that the US military isn't being transparent about what's going on. If there's a legit reason for these strikes, shouldn't they be able to show us proof or something? But instead we're just getting this info from Congress reps and UN officials... it doesn't feel right at all .

I'm not gonna lie, I'm kinda worried about the impact this is having on Caribbean nations. People are already scared of the US military presence, and now they're even leaving their homes because of these strikes? That's just heartbreaking. Can we please get some answers here?!

 

[In Search of Makeo]

The recent US military strikes on alleged drug boats have sparked a significant debate about the limits of extrajudicial killings and the use of force in international conflicts. In my opinion, these actions are not only morally questionable but also raise serious concerns about the erosion of human rights and the rule of law .

The fact that the Pentagon officials can justify "extrajudicial killings" without needing to identify individuals on board before conducting strikes is a clear breach of international humanitarian law. The use of lethal force should always be a last resort, not a preemptive measure against people suspected of carrying drugs .

It's also concerning that the US administration's lack of transparency regarding its operations and the fact that they don't require conclusive evidence before conducting strikes raises questions about accountability and the rule of law . The UN human rights chief is right to call for immediate investigations into these strikes, and I hope that the international community will hold the US accountable for its actions .