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U.S. Military Boat Strikes Face First Human Rights Challenge After 87 Deaths
The pentagon’s ongoing practice of destroying vessels in the eastern Pacific suspected of drug trafficking is facing its first formal legal challenge,following a petition filed wiht the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.The U.S. military has conducted 22 such strikes since September, resulting in at least 87 fatalities, yet has consistently failed to provide concrete evidence supporting its claims of illicit cargo.
The controversy intensified after a september 2nd strike that initially killed nine people, followed by the targeting and killing of two survivors. A subsequent strike on September 15th, which the U.S. claimed targeted “narcoterrorists,” is now at the center of a human rights case brought forth by the family of alejandro Andres Carranza medina, a 42-year-old Colombian fisherman and father of four.
According to the petition, Carranza Medina was fishing for tuna and marlin off Colombia’s Caribbean coast when his boat was bombed. His family maintains he was not involved in drug smuggling, directly contradicting claims made by former President Donald Trump. “We have proof,” Trump stated at the time. “All you have to do is look at the cargo that was – like, it spattered all over the ocean, big bags of cocaine and fentanyl all over the place. And it was. Plus, we have recorded evidence that they were leaving.” A video released alongside the statement depicted a small boat engulfed in flames.
International human rights attorney Dan Kovalik,who filed the petition on behalf of the family,argues that the U.S. actions constitute murder. “All these people who’ve been killed are innocent, as you’re innocent until proven guilty,” Kovalik explained. “None of these people were charged. None of them were put on trial and convicted. This is not how a civilized nation should act, just murdering people on the high seas without proof, without trial.”
The U.S. government has yet to respond to the petition or present any evidence linking Carranza Medina to illegal activities. However, the Colombian government, under the Petro governance, is actively supporting the family and has established a commission to investigate further killings of Colombian citizens in the Caribbean Sea.
The family has reportedly faced threats from right-wing paramilitaries – groups with past ties to U.S. funding – for speaking out about the incident, leading to their displacement. This has also instilled fear among other fishermen, who are now hesitant to venture out to sea, fearing similar attacks. “Fishermen are now stopping going out to sea to fish, because they’re afraid they’re just going to be blown up,” Kovalik noted.
The Inter-American Commission on human Rights, part of the Association of American States, has the authority to investigate the U.S. and demand a response. the commission operates under the American Declaration for the Rights and Duties of Man, established in 1948.While the U.S. can ultimately disregard the commission’s recommendations, Kovalik believes a favorable decision, coupled with growing public pressure, coudl bring justice to the family and halt the ongoing strikes.
Kovalik anticipates that other families will come forward with similar claims,particularly as the Colombian government actively seeks out potential cases.He emphasized the broader implications of the case, stating it is “not just about…killings, but it’s about the rule of law.” He drew a stark comparison, suggesting the actions are akin to “going down the street here in Pittsburgh, and the cops saying, ‘Oh, I think that guy’s dealing in drugs,’ and just blowing that person’s brains out.”
Kovalik expressed cautious optimism regarding a Senate investigation into the bombings, noting a potential shift in public opinion against the strikes. “I am at least hopeful,” he said. “Again, I think the tide is turning against these killings. The American public is disgusted by them.”
