[cure-news] Somebody Needs to do Some Time for Katrina Crimes

[Ida Hakim]

Somebody Needs to do Some Time for Katrina Crimes
by BAR contributing editor Mark P. Fancher

"Support the International Tribunal on Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 
New Orleans from August 29 through September 2."

 When the International Criminal Court (ICC) was established in 1998, it 
gave hope to literally millions of desperate, oppressed people around 
the world who otherwise believed that state-sponsored tyrants, soldiers 
and thugs who were responsible for mass murder, torture and other 
atrocities would never be held accountable for their crimes. The ICC, 
which is governed by the provisions of a treaty known as the "Rome 
Statute" is unprecedented in that in countries that submit to the 
court's jurisdiction, nobody - even heads of state - can be immune from 
criminal prosecution and punishment for genocide, war crimes and crimes 
against humanity. The creation of the ICC, which was inspired in 
significant part by incidents where governments used their domestic 
courts to absolve those guilty of heinous crimes was widely celebrated 
as a significant step forward for humanity. Even in the United States 
where there was concern about potential abuse of the court, former 
President Bill Clinton signed on to the Rome Statute with reservations.

Technically, there was the potential for ratification until Clinton's 
successor, George W. Bush, directed that Clinton's signature be removed 
from the Rome Statute. While the subsequent U.S. attacks on Iraq, and 
the tortures that have been carried out in Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib 
and elsewhere, have likely made the withdrawal from the Rome Statute a 
pretty good idea from the Bush regime's perspective, the National 
Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL) regards it as a tragic, monumental 
step backwards in the ongoing movement for the universal protection of 
human rights.

"The need for the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction over the 
U.S. is crystal clear."

As we approach the second anniversary of the Katrina disaster, and 
reflect on the countless crimes that were committed by government 
officials and employees, the need for the International Criminal Court's 
jurisdiction over the U.S. is crystal clear. NCBL had the opportunity to 
not only tour the ruins of New Orleans but to also speak with survivors. 
They described National Guard troops who allegedly aimed rifles at 
civilians and their small children while screaming obscenities and 
forcing them to remain in emergency shelters that contained no food or 
water and that were filled with human waste and countless dead bodies.

During separate interviews the survivors made almost identical 
allegations that National Guard troops entered the Super Dome and the 
convention center and effected with surgical precision the evacuation of 
white survivors while leaving the throngs of Africans behind to suffer 
and possibly die. These white-only rescue operations are alleged to have 
occurred daily and according to a schedule. NCBL also heard the story of 
one of many survivors who was arrested for a very minor offense and 
placed in a maximum security penitentiary and held there for months 
amidst violent criminals without ever appearing before a judge.

"National Guard troops entered the Super Dome and the convention center 
and effected with surgical precision the evacuation of white survivors 
while leaving the throngs of Africans behind."

 Yet another survivor claimed that he was pepper sprayed and beaten 
Rodney King style by several New Orleans police officers because he 
dared to inquire politely whether an officer knew when evacuation buses 
would arrive. NCBL heard several separate accounts of survivors who 
allege that they attempted to cross bridges from New Orleans into 
neighboring parishes, and who encountered police in formation with 
upraised rifles. The police allegedly shouted racial epithets and 
profanity as they ordered survivors to retreat.

Perhaps the most alarming allegations concerned several cold-blooded 
murders that were carried out by National Guard troops. These 
allegations included: a point-blank gangland style execution by a 
superior officer; the shooting of a deranged survivor by a Guardsman in 
a passing vehicle; and the seizure of an irate survivor who was taken to 
flying altitude in a military helicopter and then dropped overboard to 
her death.

"NCBL is calling for a people's campaign to bring the U.S. under the 
jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court."

NCBL believes that, at minimum, these allegations should be investigated 
by independent authorities who are capable of obtaining internal 
government documents and official information that might provide the 
basis for prosecutions that can land government criminals in jail. The 
ICC prosecutor generally has that capacity, but the Bush regime has 
effectively insulated itself from prosecution by rejecting ICC 
jurisdiction. There is however a new opportunity to overcome Bush 
recalcitrance during the ongoing race for the presidency. NCBL is 
calling for a people's campaign - not to elect a particular candidate - 
but to obtain commitments from all candidates that if elected, they will 
re-sign the Rome Statute, and lead the effort to bring the U.S. under 
the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

As a first and significant step in this campaign, NCBL has joined with 
the People's Hurricane Relief Fund, the Mississippi Disaster Relief 
Coalition, the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, the U.S. Human Rights 
Network, and many others to conduct an International Tribunal on 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in New Orleans from August 29 through 
September 2. (For details visit www.internationaltribunal.org) At the 
tribunal NCBL will make the case for ICC jurisdiction while others will 
present testimony and evidence of the most serious international 
criminal and human rights violations. (See NCBL's memorandum at 
www.ncbl.org)

Never again must government officials be allowed the perception that 
they can flagrantly ignore the most fundamental human rights and commit 
crimes against humanity. For its own sake, the United States needs to 
protect itself from tyranny by submitting to the jurisdiction of the 
International Criminal Court. NCBL calls upon all people of good will to 
demand that presidential candidates commit to re-signing the Rome 
Statute, and leading the effort to bring the U.S. under ICC jurisdiction.

Mark P. Fancher chairs the International Affairs Section of the National 
Conference of Black Lawyers. He can be contacted at mfancher at comcast.net.
>From hakimida at reparationsthecure.org  Sun Aug 26 08:32:10 2007
From: hakimida at reparationsthecure.org (Ida Hakim)
Date: Sun Aug 26 07:32:13 2007
Subject: [cure-news] Keep minority voices at UN
Message-ID: <46D18EEA.1040503 at reparationsthecure.org>

Keep minority voices at the UN - join our campaign
www.MinorityRights.org

The voices of minorities at the UN are under threat. In a matter of 
weeks, the Geneva-based Human Rights Council is widely expected to 
decide to dismantle the UN?s expert group on minorities, with no 
guarantees on what ? if anything ? will replace it.

Minority Rights Group International and the International Movement 
against All forms of Discrimination and Racism are launching a campaign 
today urging the HRC to take this opportunity to deliver a new, more 
effective platform for minorities at the UN ? not marginalize them further.

We need you to take action now! Sign the petition, write a letter and 
stop the voices of minorities at the United nations from disappearing. 
Go to www.MinorityRights.org.

Minorities make up to 20% of the worlds' population and exist in 
virtually every country in the world. They are often the most 
marginalised communities in their countries. For the UN's work to be 
effective - it must listen to minorities. Marginalisation increases 
leading to greater poverty, and sometimes, to conflict. Join our campaign.