Share this article
Print this page
Email a friend
- RSS
- Today's Paper
- Subscribe
- beta 2.0
High: 34°C
Low: 27°C
Alerts
Drone strikes must stop: Human rights lawyer
Stafford Smith was working with Tariq Aziz photographing impacts of the strikes when the boy was killed by a missile.
US lawyer who fought for death row inmates at Guantanamo Bay will raise the subject of innocents killed by US drone strikes in Pakistan. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
ISLAMABAD: Prominent international human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith intends to initiate a campaign aiming to draw attention towards the innocent civilians who are killed by drone strikes in the tribal areas of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan.
Stafford Smith, who was impressed by 16-year-old boy Tariq Aziz with whom he was working to take pictures of people killed by the remotely piloted aircraft to help Stafford Smith highlight what he calls illegal killings.
On October 31, Aziz and his 12-year-old cousin were themselves killed by a drone missile strike in the North Waziristan region on the Afghan border, Stafford Smith said.
(Read: Three killed in US drone strike in Miranshah)
For the veteran lawyer, the deaths highlighted major flaws in the CIA-run drone campaign, which US officials say is invaluable in the war on militants.
“What they did to Tariq was absolutely disgusting,” he told Reuters in a telephone interview.
Stafford Smith made his name defending death row inmates in the United States and prisoners at the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
He considers the drones as “scandalous” as the secret US bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam War.
80 Pakistani tribesmen, including Aziz, recently met Stafford Smith and other Western lawyers for the first time, in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, to complain about the drones.
The United States has sharply stepped up the number of drone attacks in Pakistan’s unruly ethnic Pashtun areas in the northwest, along the border with Afghanistan.
In 2009, when President Barack Obama took office, there were 53 strikes, compared with 42 over the previous four years. In 2010, that number jumped to 118, followed by 68 this year, according to the New America Foundation.
The think tank’s statistics raise doubts about the success of the drones. It estimates as many as 471 civilians were killed by drone strikes in Pakistan between 2004-2011, a 20 percent non-militant fatality rate.
US officials point to the deaths of senior al Qaeda and Taliban figures as proof the drones are highly effective, and no American troops are needed on the ground.
Missile-armed drones are playing a greater role than ever in US counterterrorism operations, as Obama winds down land wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Washington’s focus expands to militant havens in countries such as Pakistan.
“Science fiction nightmare”
Stafford Smith says the strategy will cause more civilian deaths and create additional enemies for the United States.
“When you have warfare with no political costs at all, it becomes much too easy to resort to violence,” he said, adding his goal was to raise international awareness about the suffering caused by drone strikes.
“What we are seeing in Waziristan is a process that is alienating the population just as napalm in Vietnam did and it’s achieving very little benefit.”
Stafford Smith drew parallels between Guantanamo and the drone campaign in Pakistan, arguing both detentions and strikes were often based on dubious intelligence.
He suspects the death of Aziz was a prime example of that.
“We as America offer large bounties to different informants and these informants would sell their own mothers,” said Stafford Smith, 52, a dual US-British citizen who is the director of Reprieve, an organisation that advocates for prisoners’ rights.
“We don’t have proof but this (Aziz’s death) was the result of some Pakistani informants who want to show their paymasters they are doing their jobs. So they make up a story and a poor kid dies.”
Drone “pilots” based in the United States move joy sticks around as they watch live video feeds of militants, who are killed with the push of a button.
“We keep talking our way into a system of warfare that was in our science fiction nightmare 30 years ago and we really need to have an open debate on it,” said Stafford Smith.
He faces an uphill battle. US policy makers are encouraged by drone operations like the one that killed US-born militant cleric Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen in September.
(Read: Radical US-born cleric Awlaqi killed: Yemen defence ministry)
But Stafford Smith believes “justice” will prevail.
“In the early days of Guantanamo Bay people said ‘no one will pay attention’. It was difficult,” he said.
“I have no doubt the American people and everyone else will recognise what’s going on here and put an end to it.”
Reader Comments (27)
Latest News
Junk-yard finds: ‘We’re glad the rich have garbage’
Our business thrives on rich people, if they were not there we would not have things to sell, says shopkeeper.
Post-prandial delights: ‘Don’t chew just because it looks cool’
Chew a paan the right way and for the right reasons, not because it looks cool, says Ahmed Bhai.
Cylinder explosion: 2 killed and 18 injured
An estimated 100 workers were present at the factory when a cylinder exploded, burring them under rubble.
Turkmens close to gas deal on trans-Afghan pipeline
Turkmenistan plans to sign the sales and purchase agreement for the TAPI pipeline.
Japan train with rice balls to sharpen soccer skills
The ball is irregular in shape so it behaves irregularly too. It sharpens reactions and helps improve concentration.
Recent Slideshows
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or derived from.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted © 2012 The Express Tribune News Network.
Technical feedback? webmaster@tribune.com.pk
Such good news…finally a Western lawyer has decided to start an anti-drone campaign! He’s right all the way, and deserves all the support he can get. This inhuman and illegal campaign can only take place in a region where the population is regarded as “dispensable”. Time to put a stop to it.
Recommend
Why cant we think this as Eid sacrifice to Allah for the well being of pakistan?
Recommend
On October 31, Aziz and his 12-year-old cousin were themselves killed by a drone missile strike in the North Waziristan region on the Afghan border, Stafford Smith said.
What…thats purely coincidental right…!
Recommend
All efforts of Obama government become zero when a drone hit the territorial limits of Pakistan.
How can US change the hearts and minds of Pakistani Muslims, when each of the drone attack raises the anti US government sentiments in Pakistan by manifolds?
Recommend
Go back to your ambulance chasing.
Recommend
“What they did to Tariq was absolutely disgusting,” he told Reuters in a telephone interview.”
.
Hiring a 16 year old to perform a dangerous task is also disgusting and would probably land you in jail in the USA.Recommend
If Pakistan extended the writ of state to these areas there would be no need for drone strikes. But if you allow ungoverned parts of your country to exist, and refuse to intervene or permit foreign troops on the ground, drones and air strikes are the only option. The era of safe havens is over.
Recommend
External link for reference ,,,, I don’t know if this oversteps the posting rules … but the shameful thing is that the article is written by an Indian and almost all the comments given in the end are by westerners condemning the Drone attacks … Alas no one in our country raised any voice seriously on this ,,,, height of bayghairtee ?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/nov/07/cia-unaccountable-drone-war
Recommend
Where are those champions of human rights now? Have got to see their faces, esp the hypocrisy when they defend drone strikes! Their bums are on fire now!
Recommend
@antony:It’s people like you who needs sacrifices the muslim world has been sacrificing for West since last 200 years. You very well know these tiny individual terrorists are nothing in comparison to United States of Terrorism. The only person who can speak truly and loudly is the Hon President of Iran, Mr Ahmade Nijad. He at a state level declared that the US is and it’s cohorts are committing terrorist acts around the globe and against their citizens as well. I am from England and I can tell you that there are amazing Westerners (majority of them) who are working tirelessly to save the Humanity from such cowardly, illegal and murderous acts. People are West are awaking up; you need to awake up Antony and stop listening to main stream Western Media garbage and search for truth by turning to alternative media outlets. But for this you need an open mind. Good luck in your quest.
Recommend
The conflict of war, peace and ethics were well lamented in Bhagavad Gita. War in itself is an unethical act, but one is confronted with it when the other side does not agree to the set rules of civilization. Even before the epic battle of Kurukshetra both Pandavas and Kauvravas set between themselves rules of war and engagement and each side broke the rules, again and again. Disgusted Arjuna laments if the war is worth it. The answer he gets from his chariot driver Krishna is that the war is about Dharma and casualties are inevitable, and Arjuna should carry forward his duty.
The death of Aziz and his cousin, and many other similar innocent civilians are regrettable, unavoidable and this is the same conflict Arjuna faced.
Drones took to the sky only late in the conflict. In theory there should have been peace before that. But that is not the realty.
Welcome to human conflicts and ethics.
Recommend
Yes , they will stop when the Pak Army decides to act against them in their sovereign territory, as these cockroaches are causing loss of life for NATO & US Forces trying to bring stability across the border in Afghanistan!!! But sadly Pakistan does not want that to occur as that will diminish their self importance and financial perks from west.
Recommend
sad news for imran khan.
Its attack on Imran khan’s business…
what will he sell now?
Recommend
FATA is ruled by Taliban, not Pakistan. If push comes to shove US will say Pakistan abandoned its sovereignty over FATA and point to Taliban rule, laws and regular killings of tribesmen as proof.
Recommend
Pakistan government and army should thank US government for once and all and commemoration plaque should be erected thanking them for doing the dirty job that Army and law and order agencies do not want to do. It is the Pakistani government should be paying the Americans for the cost of maintaining law and order.
Recommend
@John B:
happy u blew your smoke screen…and sad that u justify loss of innocent lives in the name of saving the civilization. now that u have shown ur true charecter…i must remind u…war itself is a problem..how it can solve one. another thing …while you are criticizing talibans for justify violence in the name of religion…you also bring urself in the same category by hustifying murders through ramayan and gita.obviously u and talebans are two sides of one coin.
Recommend
@John B:
I could not have put it better ! However this particular war has no rules of engagement, as we have seen by cowardly acts of their suicide bombers maiming and killing their own fellow muslims in name of their Jihad !!!
Drone strikes are taking place due to inaction by the Pak Army to reign in these Jihadi elements in their Sovereign Territory, purely for their own agenda and inept policies.
Recommend
@unpatriotic:
Actually this lawyer and Jemima, Imran Khan’s ex-wife, came recently to Pakistan to support Imran on condemning drone strikes, so it goes in his favour.
Recommend
@Palvasha von Hassell:
This lawyer is Brtish , and moved to US, all he has ever done is defend death row criminals and Gitmo Guest !!!
Not much substance when it comes to corridors of power in US or Europe !!
So perhaps he has decided to chase Populism in Pakistan !!!
Good luck to him, as its obvious that no one really has paid much heed to him where it matters!!!
Recommend
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui:
Pakistan has only muslims. Enuff said.
Recommend
@Ejaz Butt:
Muslims were sacrificing only for 200 years. Good to know that. But before that for hundreds of years others were sacrificing for muslims. That you forgot. Muslims occupied others’ lands. That also you forgot. How convenient!
Recommend
It’s a good news that someone has realized that what ever is going on is not right and has decided to do something for it.Being a muslim we all should pray to stop these deadly drone attacks which have killed many innocent muslims in pakistan.
Recommend
It is in the hands of Pakistan to stop drone attacks upon Pakistan which are being tacitly permitted by the “Secular” Government of The “Islamic Republic of Pakistan.”
USA is indeed to blame for the criminal and inhuman drone attacks upon the citizens of Pakistan and its Government should be held responsible.However since Pakistan Government is passively and cowardly allowing these deadly drone attacks to take place upon its territory, it is Pakistan Government that should be brought to justice first on the legitimate charges of high treason to the State and failing to do its duty of protecting the country and defending the innocent lives and properties of its citizens.Recommend
@John B:
a truely right perspective on war and ethics
Recommend
@allasia:
They (Muslims) may well have occupied other people lands which is not adorable. I haven’t forgotten at all. You have conveniently forgotten though that they didn’t mass murder like Zino Christians are carrying on for the last 900 years or so. If you study the history carfeully, you will see muslim history is marred of personal conflicts but when it came to other ethnicities and religious entities, they didn’t commit genocides like Zion Christian/Westerners are doin; I am sure you will agree me on this as it’s historic fact. Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain cruealities against muslims and jews will shy Hitlers crimes against humanity. The Jews and Christians were given very high ranking posts in Muslim governments/regimes. Muslims when occupying Spain saved hundreds and thousands of Jews from Christian brutalities and persecution. Then look at the so called Richard the Lion heart, how he massacarred innocent muslim women, children and elderly in Syria! Then look at the real Lion Salauddin Ayubi who let Christian soldiers; women, men and children let go free when he could have slayen them just like Richard did. Would you just shut your eyes from historic facts and rabid on just for the sake of your malice against muslims??
Recommend
The silence of Meida, NGOs, Paksitan Army and Pakistani Govt is shameless! Why curse USA when we ourselves have allowed this massacre? Why not initiate a case in Pakistan against Paksitani Govt and Paksitan Army?
Recommend
@Hedgefunder:
You say “all he has ever done is defend death row criminals” yes, when justice had miscarried! Very commendable of him. Don’t worry, one doesn’t get heard in the ‘corridors of power’, as you put it, by toeing the line, but by standing up for what is right. So he’s taking the right course. Such people are not looking for a pat on the back from the powers that be, but are fighting for just causes. Sound quaint? Still works, is still right!
Recommend