About
Academics
Multisport
Photography
Writing
Home

 

Saturday, November 27, 2004

US Obstruction of International Institutions of Justice

Instead of encouraging the successful implementation of an international institution of justice, administration supporters in Congress continue their obstruction of the International Criminal Court. (See article excerpts below.)

In further obstruction of international efforts for justice and human rights, the US has refused to support a review conference on the 1997 International Treaty on Land Mines. The US has still refused to sign and support the treaty and insists on allowing the US military to maintain its right to use these indiscriminate weapons of war. An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 new casualties caused by landmines and unexploded ordnance occur each year. (See links below.)

International Criminal Court links:

• Congress threatens to cut aid in fight over criminal court, by Julian Borger (27 Nov 2004, Guardian)
• U.S. Threatens to Cut Aid over Court: Congress want immunity accords for Americans, by Colum Lynch (26 Nov 2004, San Francisco Chronicle)
• Coalition for the International Criminal Court

Treaty on Landmines links:

• U.S. Won't Attend Conference on Land Mines (26 Nov 2004, AP)
• U.S. Refuses To Sign Land-Mine Treaty�(27 Feb 2004, UN Wire)
• "Bush Rules Out US Role at Global Conference on Land Mines" (27 Nov 2004, Agence France Presse)
• International Campaign to Ban Land Mines

Related essays:

• Bush Administration's History of Flouting International Law: In its hypocrisy, immunity from ICC still high on agenda (8 June 2004)
• Making a Mockery of Democracy and Human Rights (8 June 2004)

Excerpts from recent articles:

Congress threatens to cut aid in fight over criminal court
By Julian Borger (27 Nov 2004, The Guardian)

The US Congress has launched a fresh attack on the international criminal court at The Hague, threatening to cut off development aid to countries who refuse to guarantee immunity from prosecution for Americans at the tribunal.

Washington has withheld about $50m (�26m) in military aid to more than 30 countries, such as Benin, Croatia, Ecuador and Mali, which refused to sign exemption deals.

But they and more than 40 other countries have resisted US demands on the grounds that immunity deals would clash with their domestic laws and international obligations.

The new provision, included in a budget bill due for a vote on December 8, would add pressure on recalcitrant countries by cutting off civil as well as military aid.

It would stop disbursements from the state department's $2.5bn Economic Support Fund aimed at alleviating poverty.

U.S. Threatens to Cut Aid over Court
Congress Wants Immunity Accords for Americans
By Colum Lynch (26 Nov 2004, San Francisco Chronicle)

Congress's action may affect U.S. Agency for International Development programs designed to promote peace, combat drug trafficking, and promote democracy and economic reforms in poor countries. For instance, the cuts could jeopardize as much as $250 million to support economic growth and reforms in Jordan, $500,000 to promote democracy and fight drug traffickers in Venezuela, and about $9 million to support free trade and other initiatives with Mexico.

[...]

"The continuing attempt to cut aid to countries that do not support the International Criminal Court is unnecessary; the U.S. doesn't have anything to worry about," said Sally Eberhardt, a spokeswoman for the Coalition for the International Criminal Court. "There are enough safeguards built into the treaty, which the United States helped draft."

Brian Thompson, a specialist for the court at Citizens for Global Solutions in Washington, said, "They are taking another swing at international relations that I think are already damaged by cutting off economic support programs that promote American ideals."