International Justice

Amnesty's Report Condemns "Politicisation of Justice"
By Caroline Hawley
BBC Online, May 27, 2010
"Amnesty International has criticised the 'politicisation of international justice' in its annual report, which documents torture in 111 countries. The human rights group accuses powerful governments of subordinating justice to political self-interest and of shielding allies from scrutiny. It expresses particular concern over possible war crimes committed during fighting in Sri Lanka last year. The report also criticises the UN for its failure to intervene. Thousands of people were killed during the war, and a UN spokesman described the situation in northern Sri Lanka at the time as a 'bloodbath.' But Amnesty says that 'power plays' at the UN Human Rights Council led to member states approving a resolution drafted by the Sri Lankan government, complimenting itself on its success against the Tamil Tigers. 'By the end of the year, despite further evidence of war crimes and other abuses, no-one had been brought to justice,' Amnesty's Secretary General Claudio Cordone says. 'One would be hard pressed to imagine a more complete failure to hold to account those who abuse human rights.' In its report, Amnesty also cites the United States and European Union for using their position with the UN Security Council 'to continue to shield Israel from strong measures of accountability for its actions in Gaza.' But it says that there have been positive developments over the past year as well. [...]"