Sunday, March 31, 2013 - AS the United States is persisting with its provocative policy of drone strikes, peace activists in the US are starting a month of protests this week to mobilize American public opinion against drone attacks. The organizers say they plan to ‘shock people’ into action against the unmanned aircraft and during protests they would target military bases, universities and companies involved in the drone warfare.
There is absolutely no justification or logic for drone strikes that not only constitute violation of sovereignty of other countries including Pakistan but also result in human rights violations and huge collateral damage. The plan for month-long protests in Washington DC, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Honolulu, San Francisco, Sacramento, Minneapolis, Des Moines and other states would surely help raise awareness against drones that are being used by the United States as the main weapon during so-called war on terror. It is strange that a country that claims to be champion of the human rights should itself breach sovereignty of other countries and kill innocent people. There is also another aspect of the issue – every drone strike triggers more resentment, violence and anti-Americanism. The UN Human Rights Council is already investigating the issue and hopefully its report would sensitize the international public opinion against such attacks. We also believe that Pakistan might not be colluding with the United States on this account yet the fact remains that it has also not taken up the issue in right earnest with other members of the global community and at the relevant international fora. At a time, when the United States and its allies are planning to leave the region next year, Washington should review the policy without losing further time as it produces more ill-will than addressing the challenge of terrorism.
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