Lawyers of the European Union are examining a case which could expose the European Union to accusations of complicity because of its huge financial assistance to Somalia and Ethiopia.
Last week, the European Union was asked to open an investigation into whether Somali and Ethiopian military forces have committed war crimes in their latest crackdown on insurgents in the Somali capital Mogadishu.
An Ethiopian offensive, also last week, against insurgents in Mogadishu triggered four days of heavy fighting, which were the worst in more than fifteen years and which killed hundreds and forced thousands of people to flee.
Human rights groups say that many of the victims were civilians and have accused the Ethiopian forces of using tanks and attack helicopters to fire on populated areas.
The European Union top official in Kenya has forwarded an e-mail to the headquarters in Brussels from one of his officials that questions whether "indiscriminate use of force in heavily populated areas amounted to war crimes."
Mr. Eric van der Linden, who is the European Commission's top diplomat in Kenya said, in a letter to Brussels, that a security advisor has alerted him to the significance of the events in Mogadishu, in terms of the International Law on Conflict.
European Union lawyers will look at the potential culpability as the largest donor to Somalia and Ethiopia and the chief financial backer of the peacekeeping mission of the African Union.
They say that an urgent question arises in regard to responsibility, as well as potential complicity of the European Commission and the E.U. partners in war crimes, especially with regard to the current and ongoing financial aid, as well as technical assistance to any of the parties who may have committed war crimes.
The security advisor is known to have wide experience in African relations. The current and ongoing financial and technical assistance which is being provided in conflict zones also indicates that the head of the African Union peacekeeping forces (Amisom) which comprises 1,200 Ugandans, is possibly also guilty of war crimes, for failing to act responsibly.
Somalia, Uganda and Ethiopian reject the crime accusations, and international law experts have said that it is up to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to look at the war crimes.
Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
Please also see:
Nearly three dozen more refugees drown in doomed bid to reach Yemen – UN
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=22169&Cr=yemen&Cr1=refugees
International Criminal Court http://www.icc-cpi.int
UPDATES
Mogadishu Braces for New Onslaught
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1176025551769&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout
Last week, the European Union was asked to open an investigation into whether Somali and Ethiopian military forces have committed war crimes in their latest crackdown on insurgents in the Somali capital Mogadishu.
An Ethiopian offensive, also last week, against insurgents in Mogadishu triggered four days of heavy fighting, which were the worst in more than fifteen years and which killed hundreds and forced thousands of people to flee.
Human rights groups say that many of the victims were civilians and have accused the Ethiopian forces of using tanks and attack helicopters to fire on populated areas.
The European Union top official in Kenya has forwarded an e-mail to the headquarters in Brussels from one of his officials that questions whether "indiscriminate use of force in heavily populated areas amounted to war crimes."
Mr. Eric van der Linden, who is the European Commission's top diplomat in Kenya said, in a letter to Brussels, that a security advisor has alerted him to the significance of the events in Mogadishu, in terms of the International Law on Conflict.
European Union lawyers will look at the potential culpability as the largest donor to Somalia and Ethiopia and the chief financial backer of the peacekeeping mission of the African Union.
They say that an urgent question arises in regard to responsibility, as well as potential complicity of the European Commission and the E.U. partners in war crimes, especially with regard to the current and ongoing financial aid, as well as technical assistance to any of the parties who may have committed war crimes.
The security advisor is known to have wide experience in African relations. The current and ongoing financial and technical assistance which is being provided in conflict zones also indicates that the head of the African Union peacekeeping forces (Amisom) which comprises 1,200 Ugandans, is possibly also guilty of war crimes, for failing to act responsibly.
Somalia, Uganda and Ethiopian reject the crime accusations, and international law experts have said that it is up to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to look at the war crimes.
Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
Please also see:
Nearly three dozen more refugees drown in doomed bid to reach Yemen – UN
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=22169&Cr=yemen&Cr1=refugees
International Criminal Court http://www.icc-cpi.int
UPDATES
Mogadishu Braces for New Onslaught
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1176025551769&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout