He urged the United States to stop its “unacceptable” operations and take steps to prevent “extrajudicial execution of people on board these ships, regardless of the criminal conduct they are accused of.”
Beyond the law
The United States has defended the operations as part of its ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and terrorism, saying they fall within the framework of international humanitarian law.
Mr. Türk rejected that argument, highlighting that combating illicit drug trafficking is a matter of law enforcement, governed by careful limits on lethal force set out in international human rights law.
He stressed that the intentional use of lethal force is lawful only as a last resort when people pose an imminent threat to life.
Call for research
“Based on the very little information publicly provided by US authorities, none of the people aboard the attacked ships appeared to pose an imminent threat to the lives of others or otherwise justify the use of lethal armed force against them under international law,” Türk said.
The High Commissioner called for prompt, independent and transparent investigations into the reported attacks.
While acknowledging the serious challenges posed by drug trafficking, Türk urged the United States to ensure that all counternarcotics operations respect international law, including treaties to which it is a party.
“The United States must investigate and, if necessary, prosecute and punish individuals accused of serious crimes in accordance with the fundamental rule of law principles of due process and fair trial, which the United States has long upheld,” he concluded.