Downing of MH17 “may be a war crime,” according to UN

The downing of the airliner in eastern Ukraine, with its 298 occupants dead, can be considered a war crime, said Monday Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The demolition of the Malaysian Airlines plane on July 17 was a violation of international law and under the circumstances, “may be a war crime,” said Pillay. “It is imperative that a thorough, effective and independent investigation of this fact,” she said, coinciding with the release of the latest report of the observer mission sent by her office to Ukraine.

In presenting this document to the press, the head of the Section for the Americas, Europe and Central Asia High Commissioner, Gianni Magazzeni said ” you need to establish the facts and circumstances of what happened ” in relation to the plane. This will be able to ” define the next steps ” and ensure that ” those responsible are prosecuted,” he added. However, the agency stressed that the UN commission that directs Pillay is not directly involved with the investigation.

Fighting between government forces and pro-Russian separatists Kiev have prevented the second consecutive day that international investigators arrive at the crash site of flight MH17, as reported by government and separatists cited by Reuters sources.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has said in his official account of the social network Twitter that Australian and Dutch researchers have been forced to turn around and return to Donetsk unable to approach the site of impact for “security reasons.” The pro-Russian separatist leader Vladimir Antiuféyev explained to the press that the pro-Russian militia in Donetsk escorting the international investigators have realized the fighting and have decided to return.

On the crisis in eastern Ukraine, the UN estimated on Monday that 1,129 people have been killed since last June in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The death toll has tripled since that month, when the UN reported 356 murders.

In the eastern regions of Donetsk and Lugansk fighting between government forces and pro-Russian rebel groups have intensified in recent weeks, and ultimately the government forces were able to regain control of the city of Slaviansk, a strategic base for the rebels. With the escalating violence, the number of injured is now 3,442 people, said Magazzeni.

Overall, the report notes that “the situation in the east is desperate, with 104 buildings in the hands of armed groups, of which 24 are military installations, 16 administrative offices and local authorities, the Ministry of the Interior 16 and 7 Security Services. ” Moreover, the mission of observers believe that in the coming months may be a new wave of displaced people in the Crimea – annexed by Russia in March – for the harassment that minorities are suffering there.

“Strong restrictions, the continued harassment and discrimination against Ukrainians, Tatars and representatives of minorities in general ” may make way for a new exodus, they say in their assessment. These ethnic and national groups have limited rights of assembly, association and expression, while for labor all Ukrainian citizens living in Crimea and refused to take Russian citizenship are now considered foreigners. The UN estimates that up to now, about 14,000 people have fled Crimea to settle in other parts of Ukraine.

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Posted by Jamshed Sindhu on Jul 29 2014. Filed under Latest News, World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.