UN Rights Official Questions US Drones

Islamabad, June 9, IRNA – A top United Nations human rights official has questioned legality of the American drone strikes in Pakistan and called for a probe into the attacks and civilian casualties. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said in Islamabad that the American spy aircraft kill innocent civilians. “Drone attacks do raise serious questions about compliance with international law,” she said at a press conference at the conclusion of her 4-day visit to Pakistan yesterday. “I stress the importance of investigating such cases and ensuring compensation to these victims. “The principle of distinction and proportionality and ensuring accountability for any failure to comply with international law is also difficult when drone attacks are conducted outside the military chain of command and beyond effective and transparent mechanisms of civilian or military control,” she said. She said the attacks violate human rights. “I see the indiscriminate killings and injuries of civilians in any circumstances as human rights violations.” The UN human rights chief provided no statistics but called for an investigation into civilian casualties, which she said were difficult to track. “Because these attacks are indiscriminate, it is very, very difficult to track the numbers of people who have been killed,” she said. “I suggested to the government that they invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Summary or Arbitrary Executions and he will be able to investigate some of the incidents.” She said UN chief Ban Ki-moon had also urged states to be “more transparent” about circumstances in which drones are used and take necessary precautions to ensure that the attacks involving drones comply with applicable international law. Human rights and torture During her first visit to Pakistan, the high commissioner also met with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari, advisers on human rights and national harmony, minister for foreign affairs and the chief justice./end