Sri Lanka may have violated human rights in Tamil Tigers conflict

Two human rights groups reportedly have the goods on them. A year after the end of a longstanding civil war in Sri Lanka, both Human Rights Watch and the International Crisis Group are suggesting there’s evidence that the Sri Lankan army brutalized men, women, and children in an attempt to end a 30-year war. In HRW’s case, they have photos that we don’t want to see. Sri Lanka’s government dismisses the claims. source

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People have me eating human beings. How could they sink so low as to think that of me? Haven’t they had their pound of flesh yet?
Former President of Liberia Charles Taylor • On the 11 war crimes charges he faces for alleged conduct in Sierra Leone, including rape and murder, in pursuit of the money to be made from diamonds. For those unaware of the details of the case, Kanye West wrote a song about it. Taylor isn’t afraid to defend himself, saying in regards to the push to prosecute him, “This whole case has been — Let’s Get Taylor!” • source

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The case, which we covered in detail (for us, anyway) a couple of weeks ago, was a brutal killing of a family in Iraq and and a rape of a 14-year-old girl. *shudder* source

Steven Green, who was arrested after his discharge from the Army, was sentenced by a civilian jury to life, though he could’ve gotten the death penalty. source

The defense argued successfully that Green was a “broken soldier” and product of a bad childhood who was mentally damaged by the effects of the Iraq war. source

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The crime In 2006, U.S. soldier Steven Green and two fellow soldiers allegedly went into an Iraqi family’s home. Prosecutors say two soldiers raped a 14-year-old girl, while Green herded other family members into another room and killed them, then later joined his fellow soldiers. The girl was also killed. source

The crime In 2006, U.S. soldier Steven Green and two fellow soldiers allegedly went into an Iraqi family’s home. Prosecutors say two soldiers raped a 14-year-old girl, while Green herded other family members into another room and killed them, then later joined his fellow soldiers. The girl was also killed.
The controversy After the crimes became public, the Iraqi public became enraged at the brutality of the crimes. The U.S. promised that they would find those soldiers responsible and bring them to justice. Green, who was discharged by then, was arrested after visiting his grandmother in North Carolina. He expected it. source

The crime In 2006, U.S. soldier Steven Green and two fellow soldiers allegedly went into an Iraqi family’s home. Prosecutors say two soldiers raped a 14-year-old girl, while Green herded other family members into another room and killed them, then later joined his fellow soldiers. The girl was also killed.
The controversy After the crimes became public, the Iraqi public became enraged at the brutality of the crimes. The U.S. promised that they would find those soldiers responsible and bring them to justice. Green, who was discharged by then, was arrested after visiting his grandmother in North Carolina. He expected it.
The conviction Steven Green was found guilty on all charges on Thursday. He could face the death penalty. Green’s case is different from many in that he was arrested as a civilian, meaning he could be the first ex-U.S. soldier to face the death penalty in a civilian court for war crimes committed during combat. source

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We will expel anyone who goes against Sudanese law, whether they are voluntary organizations, diplomatic missions or security forces.
Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir • On expelling aid groups in Darfur, which is suffering through a major wartime crisis at his hands. (He said this while waving a sword, by the way.) Al-Bashir was recently charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court, the first time they’ve done that to a sitting head of state. • source

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He is suspected of being criminally responsible … for intentionally directing attacks against an important part of the civilian population of Darfur, Sudan; murdering, exterminating, raping, torturing, and forcibly transferring large numbers of civilians, and pillaging their property.
International Criminal Court spokesman Laurence Blairon • On Omar al-Bashir, who is the first sitting president to be charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. In the six-year conflict, nearly 300,000 Darfuris have died. • source

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21 May 2010 11:29