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From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Reply-To: "STOP NATO: �NO PASARAN!" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2001 16:39:13 EST
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Ruling on Santo Domingo Massacre [STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
Tribunal of Opinion Delivers Ruling on Santo Domingo Massacre
CHICAGO, Dec. 13 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Exactly two years to the date after the
massacre in a small town in Colombia, an international "Tribunal of Opinion"
has concluded that the Colombian Military is directly responsible for the
deaths of seventeen innocent men, women and children and injuries to
approximately 25 more.
At a press conference in Bogota, Colombia today, a delegation representing
the Tribunal, which includes Douglass Cassel, international human rights
expert and Professor of Law at Northwestern University; Bernardine Dohrn,
Director of the Children and Family Justice Center at Northwestern University
School of Law; and Maricela Garcia, Executive Director of the Illinois
Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights; announced that the Tribunal had
found that:
1. The deaths of seventeen and the injuries of some 25 more were the result
of a "Cluster Bomb" dropped from a helicopter;
2. The helicopter was operated by members of the Colombian military;
3. The helicopter and ammunition were made and distributed to the Colombian
Air Force by the U.S. Government as military aid; and
4. There has been a cover-up and obstruction of justice concerning the
incident, for which civilian authorities should investigate those responsible
in the Colombian military.
"The Tribunal was not persuaded by the argument that this bombing was
accidental," said David Stahl, a Chicago lawyer who represented the victims
before the Tribunal of Opinion.
"The Tribunal unanimously found that the Republic of Colombia has committed
several violations of international human rights and humanitarian law for
which it is accountable," explained former Illinois Supreme Court Justice
Seymour Simon, President of the Tribunal.
The Tribunal found that on Dec. 13, 1998, seventeen civilians, including six
children, were killed when a U.S. made helicopter, given to Colombia as U.S.
military aid, dropped a "Cluster Bomb" on the village of Santo Domingo in
Colombia. The bomb was most likely made in the U.S. At this time, no
criminal charges have been brought against any Colombian military personnel
involved in the incident. The Colombian military continues to deny bombing
Santo Domingo at all.
The Tribunal invited Colombia to participate, but after Colombia declined, it
appointed two Chicago attorneys, John Lee and John Slater, to defend
Colombia's interests. Lee and Slater argued in the alternative that the
Colombian Air Force's bombing of Santo Domingo was done by "accident", and
was intended for guerillas located nearby.
The Tribunal is comprised of respected individuals who were brought together
to hear evidence, apply international law and render a judgment regarding the
responsibility, if any, of the Republic of Colombia for the events in Santo
Domingo. The Tribunal held public hearings in Chicago on Sept. 22-23. The
Tribunal of Opinion was convened by the Center for International Human Rights
of Northwestern University School of Law, after the Republic of Colombia
failed to conduct a good faith investigation of the incident.
In addition to Justice Simon, members of the panel included Dawn Clark Netch,
Professor of Law Emeritus, Northwestern University and former Illinois State
Senator and Comptroller; Peter Baugher, attorney, Schopf & Weiss, Chicago;
Bernardine Dohrn, Director of the Children and Family Justice Center,
Northwestern University School of Law; Rita Fry, Cook County Public Defender;
Jesus Garcia, Director of Little Village Development Corporation and former
Illinois State Senator; Maricela Garcia, Executive Director of the Illinois
Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Chicago; Bishop Thomas Gumbleton,
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit; Rev. Timothy Keating, Director,
Conference of Major Superiors of Men, Roman Catholic Church; Dom Rizzi,
Attorney and former Illinois Appellate Court Justice; and Rabbi Arnold J.
Wolf, KAM Isaiah Israel Temple, Chicago.
The Tribunal recommended that civilian authorities conduct a full criminal
investigation of all Colombian military involved in the incident and the
cover-up, and also called for payment of reparations to all survivors and to
the families of those killed on Dec. 13, 1998. Regarding the U.S.
government, the Tribunal recommended that suspension of U.S. aid to the
Colombian military units involved should be considered, until all responsible
parties are brought to justice. It also called for a congressional
investigation of U.S. military assistance in the bombing.
"It appeared to the Tribunal that the Colombian government has attempted to
cover up what happened at Santo Domingo on Dec. 13, 1998. In addition, human
rights restrictions for U.S. military aid to Colombia may have been violated,
and these actions should be fully investigated by our own government," said
Simon.
Concerning international human rights, the Tribunal requested that the Human
Rights committee of the United Nations take its judgments into account in
their next review of Colombia's actions. They also recommended filing a
complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reflecting their
judgment.
During the public hearing, the Tribunal heard testimony from nine witnesses
from the prosecution -- four victims, two expert witnesses, a lawyer from
Colombia who testified to the status of the case in Colombia, and two experts
on human rights as they relate to this particular case. The defense
presented two expert witnesses, along with a video produced by the Colombian
army entitled, "The Great Truth of Santo Domingo."
KEYWORDS:
INTERNATIONAL, LAW
Contact: Marilyn Katz or Jennifer Tyma both of MK Communications,
312-822-0505 or Seymour Simon, 312-368-7070
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