Granting amnesty to Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who perpetrated human rights abuses and possible war crimes, would be against international law, the UN human rights chief has said.
“I have been closely following the events in Yemen, particularly the very contentious debate about an amnesty law to be presented to Parliament shortly,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said on Friday.
“International law and the UN policy are clear on the matter: amnesties are not permissible if they prevent the prosecution of individuals who may be criminally responsible for international crimes including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and gross violations of human rights.”
Under a Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) initiative, signed by President Ali Abdullah Saleh in November, which had the backing of the United States, Saleh was granted amnestying exchanged for agreeing to step down from power. Many saw the agreement as protecting a U.S.-supported tyrant from being held accountable for massive crimes against civilians. The deal was agreed to, but Saleh has only formally stepped down, while maintaining his dictatorial power.
Do you hear that dishonourable Members of the US Congress who allowed themselves to pass such laws so they themselves and the President de Jour and the Executive were effectively granted Amnesty from War Crimes and Torture laws, during the Afghanistan and Iraqi Invasions. US treaty law stipulates it as well in the Third Schedule of the Geneva Conventions, treatment of prisoners ,
Article 130
Grave breaches to which the preceding Article relates shall be those involving any of the following acts, if committed against persons or property protected by the Convention: wilful killing, torture or inhuman treatment, including biological experiments, wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health, compelling a prisoner of war to serve in the forces of the hostile Power, or wilfully depriving a prisoner of war of the rights of fair and regular trial prescribed in this Convention.
Article 131
No High Contracting Party shall be allowed to absolve itself or any other High Contracting Party of any liability incurred by itself or by another High Contracting Party in respect of breaches referred to in the preceding Article.
The US government knows that laws are only for suckers and poor people.
What international law? The USan Empire doesn't need no stinkin' international law.