U.S., UN: “Unacceptable attacks against alleged drug-trafficking vessels”

Geneva (Switzerland), Oct. 31 (LaPresse) – The United Nations human rights chief stated that U.S. military attacks on vessels allegedly carrying illegal drugs from South America are “unacceptable” and must stop. Today’s condemnation appears to be the first of its kind by a UN agency. President Donald Trump justified the attacks on the vessels as a necessary escalation to curb the flow of drugs to the United States. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for an investigation, stating that reportedly, since early September, more than 60 people have been killed in attacks on vessels in the region, according to UN human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani. “These attacks and their rising human toll are unacceptable,” he said during a UN press conference in Geneva. The spokesperson added that Türk believes “U.S. airstrikes on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific violate international human rights law.” “These attacks and their growing human cost are unacceptable,” she added, “the United States must stop them and take all necessary measures to prevent the extrajudicial killing of people aboard these vessels.” Shamdasani noted the explanations provided by the U.S., which describe the operations as part of an anti-drug and anti-terror campaign, but emphasized that countries have long agreed that combating illicit drug trafficking is a public order issue governed by “strict limits” on the use of lethal force.