Amnesty Intl. upset over UK's trend to let war criminals off hook

[phoebe]

http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=ENGEUR450022006 Feb3, 2006

United Kingdom: Government attempts to undermine its legal obligation to bring war criminals to justice

Amnesty International is alarmed by reports, published today in the London-based newspaper The Guardian, that the UK government is considering moves which would undermine efforts to bring war criminals to justice.

It is reported that such considerations began following protestations by the Israeli authorities after a UK court issued a warrant in September 2005 for the arrest of Israeli army General Doron Almog, which the UK authorities failed to execute. At the time Amnesty International expressed concern at the UK authorities’ failure to arrest General Almog, notwithstanding the fact that a court had issued a warrant for his arrest. Since then, the organization has been calling on the UK authorities for the matter to be investigated.

Amnesty International is dismayed at reports that the UK government would even contemplate weakening its domestic legislation and thereby undermining global efforts to ensure that those accused of the most egregious crimes under international law, wherever committed, are brought to justice. These reports call into question the commitment of the UK authorities to the exercise of universal jurisdiction over international crimes, and their resolve to ensure reparation to victims of such crimes.

Amnesty International is also dismayed at the report that the UK government apologized to the Israeli authorities for the incident involving General Almog – the government should not apologize for the lawful application of the law by a member of the UK judiciary.


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Guess Blair et al are changing the rules to protect their own asses - ya think???? Oh and of course, *'s too..

[Jim Sagle]

1. This thread ain't nuthin' but shit.

[EST]

2. Israel has "failed to comply" with so many of its

international obligations, over the years, that I have gone from a supporter of Israel, from my history studies in high school, forty years ago, to a suspicious sympathizer of their opponents. Does this all relate back to religion?

[Wilms]

3. Like Maggie Thatcher and Pinochet

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/304516.stm