Colombian military used Red Cross emblem in rescue

[Judi Lynn]

updated 1 hour, 32 minutes ago
Colombian military used Red Cross emblem in rescue

By Karl Penhaul
CNN

BOGOTA, Colombia (CNN) -- Colombian military intelligence used the Red Cross emblem in a rescue operation in which leftist guerrillas were duped into handing over 15 hostages, according to unpublished photographs and video viewed by CNN.

Photographs of the Colombian military intelligence-led team that spearheaded the rescue, shown to CNN by a confidential military source, show one man wearing a bib with the Red Cross symbol. The military source said the three photos were taken moments before the mission took off to persuade the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels to release the hostages to a supposed international aid group for transport to another rebel area.

Such a use of the Red Cross emblem could constitute a "war crime" under the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law and could endanger humanitarian workers in the future, according to international legal expert Mark Ellis, executive director of the International Bar Association.

"It is clear that the conventions are very strict regarding use of the symbol because of what it represents: impartiality, neutrality. The fear is that any misuse of the symbol would weaken that neutrality and would weaken the {Red Cross}," Ellis said.

"If you use the emblem in a deceitful way, generally the conventions say it would be a breach. {Based on the information as explained to me} the way that the images show the Red Cross emblem being used could be distinguished as a war crime, " he added.

More:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/07/15/colombia.red.cross/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

[dipsydoodle]

1. Do you think there's any particular reason

that's on CNN World and not CNN ?

On TV , here in Blighty.....lol , that's one of CNN World's main latest news items.

[Bacchus39]

2. isn't international news typically in the world section?

regarding the use of the red cross symbol in question though. you will note from the article the FARC have done it in the past and not to excuse it, but I'd say in the grand scheme of things the use of a symbol on a T-shirt versus the rescue of the hostages is not much of a comparison.

[dipsydoodle]

6. Good point

but I just went into CNN.com out of curiousity and they've got home and international news so I guess there must've been another reason in this instance. I say that because its there now : http://us.cnn.com/ Is that the home page that you get ?

[Bacchus39]

8. I just go to cnn.com and then the world section

while certainly some of the front page US stories are interesting and deserving, stories on celebrities, the latest American Idol, or what Brett Favre is complaining about today do not always pique my interest.

stories on latin america or Africa or the international arena are not always on the front page unless they are spectacular but going to the World page usually gives more details about serious matters than "front page" news.

[dipsydoodle]

11. It's rigged to identify an IP.

If I enter www.cnn.com it diverts me immediately to http://edition.cnn.com/

[Bacchus39]

12. hmmm...not for me, and I see the Red Cross emblem story is front and center now n/t

n

[Bacchus39]

9. delete dupe

m

[Judi Lynn]

3. Interesting, for sure. Well, US taxpayers' money was involved, as well as US personel.

They've gone from claiming the US people were intimately involved in the entire operation from beginning to the end, to a recent wrinkle, claiming the US didn't know about the operation until AFTER they had done it because they believed the U.S. would refuse permission on it.

When I saw that one I nearly swallowed my tongue, due to the completely conflicting OTHER material I had read already.

These guys are so dirty.

Thanks for the deeper view, edwardlindy. Wouldn't have known this otherwise.

[Bacchus39]

10. I saw none of that

they originally claimed the US supported including identifying the location of the rebels with hostages. more news on the support appeared to suggest the US sent both equipment and personnel there. I saw no mention of the US did not know about the operation until after it happened. and either way, so what??? the hostages were freed.

[Judi Lynn]

13. You didn't see it, so it didn't happen. Makes sense.

Colombia delayed telling U.S. of hostage rescue plan
An official says it did so to avoid a possible 'no' from America, which had the last say in any such effort. The U.S. was told only a week before, after its intelligence officials suspected a move.

By Chris Kraul and Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
July 14, 2008

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA -- Although the U.S. government was supposed to have final authority on any plan to rescue three American contractors held by guerrillas, it was kept in the dark by the Colombian military until a week before the July 2 operation to lessen the chances the Bush administration would veto the effort, said a top official close to the operation.

"They wanted to wait long enough to make it difficult to say no," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was forbidden to discuss the topic for attribution.

A Colombian Defense Ministry official, who also requested anonymity, confirmed Sunday that his government had waited until shortly before the operation to inform the United States. However, he said Colombia delayed not because it feared the Americans would oppose the move but "to ensure with certainty that the plan would be executed successfully."

In early June, intelligence officials in the U.S. Embassy here intercepted communication among rebel leaders at the same time that they noticed the suspicious convergence of groups suspected of guarding the three Americans and other hostages. The officials were part of a 100-person team dedicated to securing the release of the American contractors, Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell, since they were captured in February 2003 when their plane crash-landed in remote jungle.

More:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-colombia14-2008jul14,0,4807303.story

[Bacchus39]

14. the three American contractors it says, and Colombia did it anyway. good!! n/t

way to go Colombia.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Colombia misused Red Cross emblem in hostage rescue

Colombia misused Red Cross emblem in hostage rescue
Reuters
Published: Wednesday, July 16, 2008

BOGOTA - Colombia misused the symbol of the Red Cross in this month's military rescue of politician Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other guerrilla-held hostages, the government said on Wednesday, admitting a possible violation of the rules of war.

"We regret that this occurred," President Alvaro Uribe said in a speech following reports that the Red Cross emblem was displayed on a vest or T-shirt worn by a Colombian intelligence officer who took part in the rescue mission.

Falsely portraying military personnel as Red Cross members is against the Geneva Conventions as it could put humanitarian workers at risk when they are in war zones.

More:
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=c786f768-4864-42b9-8e47-3d4a83e6b523

[Bacchus39]

7. ooohhhh my goodness!!!

there was more outrage that they wore Che shirts.

but I guess now they'll have to give the hostages back.

any word on whether taking hostages is a war crime???

[Judi Lynn]

5. Uribe: Betancourt rescuers used Red Cross

updated 14 minutes ago
Uribe: Betancourt rescuers used Red Cross

By Karl Penhaul
CNN


BOGOTA, Colombia (CNN) -- Colombian President Alvaro Uribe says one Red Cross symbol was used in a daring and successful hostage rescue mission that took place two weeks ago.

One of the rescuers was wearing the symbol on a bib, Uribe said Wednesday in a nationally televised announcement that was also carried on radio. He described the wearing of the symbol as a slip-up.

Such a use of the Red Cross emblem could constitute a "war crime" under the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law and could endanger humanitarian workers in the future, according to international legal expert Mark Ellis, executive director of the International Bar Association.

Uribe said he was sorry for the mistake and had talked to Red Cross officials about it.

He said the member wearing the bib had been nervous, and feared for his life.

~snip~
"If you use the emblem in a deceitful way, generally the conventions say it would be a breach. the way that the images show the Red Cross emblem being used could be distinguished as a war crime, " Ellis added.

More:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/07/16/colombia.cross/index.html

[dipsydoodle]

15. BBC link is up now.

Betancourt rescuer wore Red Cross

Colombia's president has confimed that a Red Cross symbol was worn by a member of the military rescue mission that freed 15 hostages from Farc rebels.

Alvaro Uribe said he had apologised to the Red Cross for the error, made by a nervous soldier acting against orders.

Misuse of the Red Cross emblem is considered a violation of the Geneva Conventions and international law.
>
Falsely portraying military personnel as Red Cross workers is against the Geneva Conventions because it could put humanitarian workers at risk when carrying out missions in war zones.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7510423.stm

[Bacchus39]

16. the hostage rescue was a humanitarian mission in a war zone

case closed.

[Judi Lynn]

17. Never noticed you bouncing off the walls when the other hostages were returned, earlier.

What's really spooky is your act at rejoicing that a "leftist" has been returned.

[Bacchus39]

18. I think all hostages should be freed

I've also said that Uribe should not run for election (not my call though). I also said that Betancourt could be a the president and could in fact beat Uribe. yes, indeed. rationality and consistency, I see how you could be spooked.