Two more people are dead in the eastern Pacific, killed by the U.S. military in a strike on a small vessel on Wednesday night, bringing the total death toll to at least 207. The U.S. regime’s account is brief, incomplete and unproven: “known narco-trafficking routes,” “narco-terrorists,” “lethal kinetic strike.” No evidence was produced. No evidence has ever been produced.
Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out the strike on June 3 at the direction of SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, targeting a vessel the command described as operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations and transiting known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific.
The military has released a video of the attack and statements describing its targets as tied to designated terrorist organisations, but has generally not publicly released evidence identifying those killed or proving the vessels were carrying drugs. This is the pattern. It has been the pattern since September. It will be the pattern next week, and will be the pattern until the international community steps in.
Even if every one of those 207 people was exactly who the regime claims, the USA would still have no legal right to kill them. Drug trafficking does not carry a death sentence. The USA has no legal jurisdiction over international waters. It has never been granted UN authority to take on this mission. Three distinct legal prohibitions, none of them answered, none of them seriously addressed by any U.S. official. The executions began anyway. They continue.
Prior to Operation Southern Spear, countering illicit drug trafficking was handled by law enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard, and suspected smugglers were treated as criminals with due process rights. That regime of law was discarded quietly, without legislation, without debate, without a vote. The executions began. They continue.
Our own investigation found the same thing on every strike where information could be obtained: fishing vessels, fishing crews, fishing routes. One thing we have not found, is evidence of “drug vessels”, and the USA has no intention of providing that evidence. Currently, based on all available evidence, the U.S. military is on a serial killing campaign targeting fishing boats. We welcome any release of evidence that overturns this conclusion, but we must report on the evidence available to us.
207 people. The campaign shows no signs of stopping, and shows no signs of being legally justified anytime soon.
