People's indictment on war crimes: anti-drone protests in the United States

by Daya Gamage

Forty concerned citizens created a blockade in the morning hours of Thursday of Hancock Air National Guard Base outside Syracuse, New York on a slogan "People's Indictment of War Crimes" declaring that the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) attack in other countries are intentional, premeditated, and deliberate use of lethal force to commit murder in violation of US and International law.

MQ-9 Reaper drones are operated by remote control from this base, and are used to carry out attacks in Afghanistan, north-western Pakistan in the Waziristan region, Somalia and possibly other countries. The activists say this use of drones violates International and domestic law, and amounts to war crimes.

The blockade began shortly after 8 am Thursday morning, when the activists gathered outside three gates of the military airfield, which are located on East Malloy, Thompson, and Townline Roads in the Town of DeWitt.

They set up traffic cones, unfurled banners, and held up signs and pictures. The signs named the war crimes that the activists say are being carried on at the base, and the pictures portrayed children who have been killed by the drones. They succeeded in blocking gates for two and a half hours before they were arrested and taken to the Town Court of DeWitt.

A group of about forty Americans were in Pakistan early this month and led a demonstration toward the Afghanistan-Pakistan border areas which included Waziristan led by Pakistan's onetime cricket star and now leading opposition activist Imran Khan in protest of deadly drone attacks in that region. This is the first time drone protest were organized on U.S. soil.

Those blocking the gates were told by police that they would be arrested for a trespassing violation if they didn't leave, but 17 of them remained in place until they were taken into police custody.

Those arrested ranged in age from their twenties to their seventies, and included veterans as well as followers of various religions including those of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish faiths.

The activists presented a document to personnel at the base, which they called a "People's Indictment for War Crimes."

They also read the indictment outside the gates. The indictment reads, in part: "These drones are being used...for killings far removed from combat zones...to assassinate individuals and groups...Extrajudicial killings such as those the US carries out by drones, are intentional, premeditated, and deliberate use of lethal force to commit murder in violation of US and International law."

The use of armed drones has become the subject of controversy recently, with a recent study by Stanford and New York Universities showing that civilian casualties are much higher than has been claimed by the Obama administration.

The study also shows that the continual presence of drones over some parts of Pakistan is creating psychological trauma in the civilian population.

The Asian Tribune in a previous report carried the highlights of the Stanford/New York Universities' investigative-research report.

A recent poll in Pakistan shows the US drones are sparking outrage in that country, with 75% now viewing the United States as more of an enemy than an ally.

At hearings in DeWitt Township court on Thursday afternoon, all were charged with trespass and disorderly conduct and served with protection orders banning them from contacting Earl A. Evans, Mission Support Group Commander of the National Guard. Four of the protesters were released on their own recognizance pending trial and the rest are being held in jail on bonds ranging from $250 to $1000.

Courtesy Asian Tribune