Myanmar killing clear violation of international law
THE brutal military crackdown in Myanmar is morphing into a civil war, which could escalate into genocide as a docile world remains on the sidelines. The merciless killing of civilians including 50 children, in Myanmar, is a clear violation of international law and a gross violation of the UN charter.
The grave situation is spiralling out of control. The brutal actions of all the fascists is a gross violation of international law as set out in the Nuremberg principles. Principles of international law recognised in the charter of the Nuremberg tribunal and the judgment of the tribunal in 1950. Principle I: Any person who commits an act which constitutes a crime under international law is responsible therefore and liable for punishment.
Principle II: The fact that internal law does not impose a penalty for an act which constitutes a crime under international law does not relieve the person who committed the act from responsibility under international law.
Principle III: The fact that a person who committed an act which constitutes a crime under international law acted as head of state or responsible government official does not relieve him from responsibility under international law. In the 21st century, women and children have become the direct and indirect victims of armed conflict.
The most fundamental challenge for any international legal system which wishes to mitigate the suffering of children in war is to ensure their very survival.
International Humanitarian Law (otherwise known as the law of armed conflict) is the body of international law which governs the conduct of war; it sets out the parameters of what is legally permissible during hostilities and includes the Geneva conventions of 1949 and the additional protocols of 1977.
From what we know about young protesters and children’s experience in the Myanmar conflict, the fact that they are the victims and sometimes purposefully targeted, one must question the efficiency of the legal protection available under humanitarian law.
Protecting innocent civilians is the most important challenge ahead for the UN and other international policy makers. More attention to human security above national security will help reduce cycles of conflict and instability.
For how long will we quietly look at these animalistic scenes produced by inhuman behaviour of the military in Myanmar? And for how long will we be blind and tolerate those monsters who are fighting for their own interests by the deaths of others. FAROUK ARAIE | BENONI