By IRNA,
London : A number of distinguished investigators of war crimes who have judged previous cases of war crimes in international tribunals have called for a “full investigation” into international law abuses during the recent Israeli war on Gaza.
The call, supported by Amnesty International, is made in a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and all members of the UN Security Council, IRNA has learnt.
About 1,500 people including women and children were killed and several thousands were injured in 22 days of the Zionist regime’s attacks on Gaza. Israel stands accused of the killings and using weapons described by international law and the Amnesty International as “illegal”.
A UN board of inquiry is expected to report on Monday on its initial findings regarding attacks on UN facilities and personnel in Gaza.
The letter stresses the need for an investigation into “all serious violations of international humanitarian law committed by all parties to the conflict.”
It also reiterates that the UN investigation should not be limited only to attacks on the UN facilities as the current UN inquiry is “no substitute for a full investigation.”
The signatories, who have led investigations of crimes committed in former Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Darfur, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, East Timor, Lebanon and Peru, said that they have been “shocked to the core” by the events in Gaza.
“We have seen at first hand the importance of investigating the truth and delivering justice for the victims of conflict and believe it is a precondition to move forward and achieve peace in the Middle East,” part of the letter said.
It also called for the establishment of an independent UN commission which has a “mandate to carry out a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation of all allegations of serious violations of international humanitarian law.”
“The committee should also act in accordance with the strictest international standards governing such investigations and provide recommendations as to the appropriate prosecution of those responsible for gross violations of the law by the relevant authorities,” the letter said.
Professor William A. Schabas, former member of the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission and a signatory to the letter, said “the international community must apply the same standard to Gaza as it does to other conflicts and investigate all abuses of the laws of war and human rights.”
The signatories conclude that “relief and reconstruction are desperately needed but, for the real wounds to heal, we must also establish the truth about crimes perpetuated against civilians on both sides.”
The signatories to the letter included:
– Professor Cherif Bassiouni (USA), Chairman of the UN Commission of Experts to Investigate Violations of International Humanitarian Law in the Former Yugoslavia (1992-1994) and Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the UN Diplomatic Conference on the International Criminal Court (1998). He is currently Professor of International Law and President Emeritus of the International Human Rights Law Institute.
– Professor Alex Boraine (South Africa), Vice-chairman of the South Africa Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1995-1998) and Chairman of the International Centre for Transitional Justice and Professor of Law at the New York University.
– Professor Antonio Cassese (Italy), First President (1993-1997) and Judge (1993-2000) of the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (1993-1997) and Head of the UN International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur (2004) and Professor of International Law at the University of Florence.
– Luc Côté (Canada), Former Executive Director of the Independent Special Commission of Inquiry for Timor-Leste (2006) and Director of Prosecutions of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (2003-2005).
– Richard J. Goldstone (South Africa), Chairman of the South Africa Standing Commission of Inquiry Regarding Public Violence and Intimidation (1991-1994), Chief Prosecutor of the UN International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda (1994-1996), Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa (1996-2003) and Chairman of the UN Independent Inquiry Commission on Kosovo (1999).
– Hina Jilani (Pakistan), Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Human Rights Defenders (2000-2008) and Member of the Darfur Commission of Inquiry (2006).
– Professor Salomón Lerner Febres (Peru), Chairman of the Peru Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2001-2003). He is currently Rector Emeritus of the Catholic University of Peru and President of the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights.
– Dumisa Ntsebeza (South Africa), Member of the South Africa Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1995-1998) and of the UN International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur (2004).
– Professor Stelios Perrakis (Greece), Member of the UN Commission of Inquiry to Lebanon (2006), Professor of International and European Institutions at the Pantheion University and Member of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission.
– Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro (Brazil), UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burundi (1995-1998) and in Myanmar (2000-2008) and Chairman of the Independent Special Commission of Inquiry for Timor-Leste (2006), Commissioner and Rapporteur on Children at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
– Mary Robinson (Ireland), President of Ireland (1990-1997) and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002). She is currently Chancellor of the University of Dublin.
– Professor William A. Schabas (Canada), Member of the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2002-2004). He is currently Professor of Human Rights Law at the National University of Ireland and Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights.
– Yasmin Sooka (South Africa), Member of the South Africa Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1995-1998) and of the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2002-2007), Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights.
Desmond Travers (Ireland), Former Colonel of the Army of the Irish Defence Forces, Director at the Institute for International Criminal Investigations.
– Desmond Tutu (South Africa), Chairman of the South Africa Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1995-1998) and Noble Peace Prize winner (1984).
– Ralph Zacklin (United Kingdom), United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs (1998-2005), Member of the Independent Special Commission of Inquiry for Timor Leste (2006), Chairman of the United Nations Independent Panel on Accountability 2008).