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Mar-11-2008 19:07
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UN Ties Growing Number of Mercenaries to Serious Human Rights Abuses
Salem-News.comPrivate security companies lack oversight and regulation – UN working group
 Adding to a growing list of concerns over private mercenaries, some veterans advocates say soldiers and Marines have been charged with crimes carried out by members of these "private security companies" |
(GENEVA) - A growing number of private security and military companies are operating domestically and internationally without effective oversight or accountability, the United Nations working group on the use of mercenaries warned today.
Presenting its report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the working group said that private security companies in such conflict-wracked countries as Iraq, Colombia and Afghanistan are recruiting former policemen and members of the military from developing countries as "security guards" in their operations.
Once there, those guards in fact become "militarily armed private soldiers," which is essentially a new way to describe mercenaries, who are often responsible for serious human rights abuses, the working group stated.
War-torn States also frequently lack the capacity to control and regulate the private companies, the report noted, with national legislation granting immunity to the companies – which are sometimes transnational – in some cases. When this happens, the private guards are only accountable to their employers, and the working group said immunity can soon turn into impunity.
The working group, established in 2005 and composed of five independent experts serving in personal capacities, called for the wider ratification of the International Convention against the recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries.
It noted that as holders of the monopoly of the legitimate use of forces, States are and should be the main actors responsible for protecting and promoting human rights.
The working group’s members are José Luis Gómez del Prado of Spain (chairperson-rapporteur), Libya’s Najat al-Hajjaji, Amada Benavides de Pérez of Colombia, Russia’s Alexander Nikitin and Shaista Shameem of Fiji.
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Another article from the UN last year details other problems with private security firms, visit this link: Private security firms involved in new forms of mercenary activity – UN experts
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Henry Ruark March 12, 2008 1:41 pm (Pacific time)
Ex-H. et al: Surely there are examples of precisely this kind of malign, private-interest/protecting distortion of the police power in our nation today. With the example set at the top by the Bush cabal in the contempt with which they treated Congressionally determined laws, and with their open attack on Constitutionally-guaranteed rights clearly set forth in thd Bill of Rights --what do you expect ? Do you really believe there is any lack of impeachable offenses by them, demanding action now by whatever remnant remains of Congressional determination to uphold their sworn duties and obligations ? That is why our first step for any possible remediation must be impeachment --to clear away any possible recurrence by proper action and its deserved punishment; and to repudiate in the strongest terms any possible "precedent", such as now governs the Judiciary in their complacent acceptance of continued such actions, including the farce of political "free speech" covered by "corporate campaign contributions" now both lubricating and controlling private influence on executive execution, legislative action,and judiciary evaluation, demanded for any possible remediation.
Exhippie March 12, 2008 12:41 pm (Pacific time)
While working on a project in downtown Portland OR I ran into the Portland business security force patrolling the streets of the city. They have badges like police, they are armed with police issue glocks, they have hand cuffs, peeper spray, black uniforms with bullet prof vest, only they are not sworn to up hold the rights of our citizens. They are armed mercenaries roving our city loyal to the ones that sign the check. Strange how slowly you can boil a frog with out it ever trying to jump away!
Henry Ruark March 12, 2008 10:49 am (Pacific time)
Sue et al: Most significant book re mercenary takeover is "Blackwater" by NATION Books Scahill. Had Op Eds on this some time ago, find in Staff "Written by..."-line. Amazon list several more, some paperback, inexpensive. Currently more contractors in Iraq than U.S. armed forces, with thousands of armed mercenaries not accountable under Iraq or U.S. laws, many paid $1,000 or more a DAY ! --and thousands even more luxuriously. Thank you for your attention to increasingly important Bush-cabal action costing us dearly in much more than both dollars and blood...
Sue March 12, 2008 9:25 am (Pacific time)
That is what you get with privitization! Sick is what it is, and that leaves our real soldiers looking like the bad guys.
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