US Boat Incident in Latin America Under Investigation

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is set to hold an international hearing regarding the United States’ alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. On September 2, the US launched dozens of military strikes against suspected drug-smuggling boats in the region. Nearly half a year later, little information has been made public about the strikes.

A group of experts from the United Nations and international law will testify at the hearing on Friday, seeking to shed light on the situation. The hearing aims to conduct a fact-finding investigation into the events surrounding the strikes. Additionally, the commission seeks to determine whether there is an armed conflict in the region, which would contradict US President Donald Trump’s previous claims.

The experts testifying at the hearing believe that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has a unique mandate to investigate the matter. The commission is an independent body within the Organization of American States, established in 1948 as a founding member of the US. The hearing will provide an opportunity for transparency from the Trump administration regarding the legal justification for the strikes.

Several families have come forward to informally identify victims of the strikes, including Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo, who were killed in October while sailing home to Trinidad and Tobago. A complaint filed against the US government alleges that both men were targeted due to their involvement in drug-related crimes. The IACHR has launched numerous human rights investigations in recent years, including probes into mass kidnappings and murders.

The hearing is expected to yield more information about the strikes and contribute to accountability for those involved.

Source: Al Jazeera