RE: The Latin American Report # 636
You are viewing a single comment's thread:
"...the role of regional police..."
I strongly disagree. In what jurisdiction is the role of police to slaughter accused without trial? There is no legal theory in any polity of which I am aware in which the role of police is to just gun people down if there are claims they have broken the law. The role of police everywhere is to arrest and take into custody the accused, where the courts determine their guilt or innocence, and but few are executed for crimes they are convicted of.
Even El Salvador, which is accused of gross human rights violations for it's horrible mistreatment of it's captives, does not just slaughter them in the street.
"...those who have been the victims of the attacks, who, moreover, have tended to be the lower-rank actors in the long chain of command of drug trafficking."
Have they? I have seen not one shred of evidence that is so. They are accused, are murdered, and die. No evidence they are guilty is ever provided.
Thanks!
We agree my friend. When I refer to "justice", "jurisdiction", or "responsibility", in that form, I am just pointing to the narrative advanced by the Trump administration, in its terms. I can be more explicit next time in this sense. Best regards from the Island and thanks always for your sound feedback in this space.
As for the second issue you highlighted, about the rank of those killed, I was relying on this AP report. Very interesting.
I can understand relying on the only information that is available, but reliance on the allegations of the killers and their paid mouthpieces in corporate media is ill advised, IMHO. These are not courts, the claims of the reporters not under oath, and entirely consist of hearsay - at best. This is not evidence of crimes sufficient to convict anyone in a court of law, nor is a conviction for smuggling very likely to result in a death sentence were these allegation provable. It may be hard to believe that the American government could just lie and slaughter men for political purposes, but that IS obviously occurring, and no probative evidence supports their narrative. That narrative clearly is being used to create a sense of threat in Americans, so they might support a military invasion of Venezuela so that financial vultures can feast on the oily carcass.
I vehemently oppose that purpose, and the murderous intent behind it. It is a threat to all free men everywhere if men somewhere can just be slaughtered to promote a political narrative. I beseech you to exercise more skepticism regarding these murders, that the rule of law and the sovereignty of humanity remain a standard we hold all men accountable to.
I fully agree. I understand very well that media like AP, always, have some or a lot of bias. What issues they pick? Who they ask about them and how? And so on. Yet in this case, I assessed the claims about the dynamic of life in the Paria Peninsula with some Cuban friends based in Venezuela right now, and it seems the report is somehow a reliable account. And it is true that the government in Caracas can be more proactive and talk about those who are missing to shed light about this juridical nightmare, to put a name to where we only have a number so far.
Were it not for smugglers, America would not exist. Extra judicial killing of them in this case is purely politically motivated. They aren't terrorists, and recreational drugs like cocaine aren't terrorist bombs. The US military isn't a police force, and it's presence on the streets of American cities should be terrifying to all Americans in the light of these killings. This is not policing, even if the men are smugglers. It's murder, for political gain.