Römer Killing in a Gray Area between Humanitarian Law and Human Rights

How Can the National Police of Colombia Overcome the Uncertainty of Which Branch of International Law to Apply?
1. Auflage 2010
ISBN: 978-3-642-04662-9
Verlag: Springer
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: Wasserzeichen (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 184 Seiten

Armed forces can be confronted with the problem of correctly classifying a targeted group as one that is or is not party to an armed conflict. In particular, this happens in a context of a high level of violence where a non-international armed conflict is (likely) occurring at the same time, such as in Iraq, Afghanistan, Brazil or Mexico. The difficulty of qualifying the targeted group leads to a legal uncertainty in which it is unclear whether an operation is governed by international humanitarian law or the international law of human rights. The problem is of particular interest when lethal force is resorted to, as killing might be illegal under one of the two branches. The book attempts to provide guidance on how this uncertainty can be overcome. In order to do so, the requirements to kill under IHL and human rights law are analyzed and compared, as well as assessed in concrete operations of the National Police of Colombia who face this problem on a regular basis.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Römer, Jan

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;191945_1_En_BookFrontmatter_OnlinePDF;2
2;191945_1_En_1_Chapter_OnlinePDF;16
2.1;Chapter 1: Introduction;16
2.1.1;Content and Questions Addressed;16
2.1.1.1;Killing: A General Problem in International Law and Its Relevance to the Colombian Case;16
2.1.1.2;Legal Framework;17
2.1.1.3;The Gray Area Between IHL and Human Rights in Cases of Armed Conflict;17
2.1.2;Justification of the Research Topic;18
2.1.3;Questions That Are not Addressed;20
2.1.4;Outline;21
3;191945_1_En_2_Chapter_OnlinePDF;22
3.1;Chapter 2: The Situation in Colombia;22
3.1.1;Armed Conflict not of International Character: Classification of the Colombian Case;22
3.1.1.1;Article 3 GC I-IV;23
3.1.1.1.1;Threshold of Application;24
3.1.1.1.2;Party to the Conflict: Groups of Organized Crime and Banditry;25
3.1.1.1.2.1;Degree of Organization;26
3.1.1.1.2.1.1;Capacity to Carry Out Operations Reaching the Threshold of Armed Conflict;26
3.1.1.1.2.1.2;Ability to Implement IHL;27
3.1.1.1.2.2;Alternative Criteria;27
3.1.1.1.2.3;Are the Armed Groups Required to Have a Political Goal?;28
3.1.1.1.2.4;Can Parties to the Conflict Commit Acts of Terrorism?;29
3.1.1.1.2.4.1;View of the US Government;30
3.1.1.1.2.4.2;Echoing the US Government´s View;30
3.1.1.1.2.4.3;Summary;31
3.1.1.1.3;Non-State Parties to the Colombian Armed Conflict;32
3.1.1.1.3.1;Guerrilla Movements;32
3.1.1.1.3.1.1;FARC-EP;32
3.1.1.1.3.1.2;ELN;34
3.1.1.1.3.2;Paramilitary Groups;34
3.1.1.1.3.3;Organized Criminal Groups, Namely Drug Smugglers;37
3.1.1.2;Criteria under Article 1 AP II;37
3.1.1.2.1;The Responsible Command;38
3.1.1.2.2;Control Over Part of a Territory;39
3.1.1.2.3;The Sustained and Concerted Character of Military Operations;39
3.1.1.2.4;Military Operations Against Governmental Armed Forces;40
3.1.1.2.5;The Ability to Implement the Protocol;41
3.1.1.3;Summary;41
3.1.2;The Term ``Armed Forces´´ in IHL and the National Police of Colombia;41
4;191945_1_En_3_Chapter_OnlinePDF;44
4.1;Chapter 3: Legal Requirements for the Use of Lethal Force;44
4.1.1;Introductory Explanations of the Right to Life;44
4.1.2;Applicable Branches of International Law;45
4.1.2.1;Applicability of Human Rights and Applicable Conventions;45
4.1.2.2;Relationship Between IHL and the International Law of Human Rights;47
4.1.2.2.1;Process of Convergence;47
4.1.2.2.2;Different Approaches towards Defining the Relationship;49
4.1.2.3;Which Body of Law Regulates the Matter?;51
4.1.2.3.1;Conduct of Hostilities and Law Enforcement;52
4.1.2.3.2;Legal Framework;52
4.1.2.4;Is There a Specific Branch of International Law for the Fight Against Terrorism?;55
4.1.2.5;Summary;56
4.1.3;Killing under International Humanitarian Law (Hostilities);56
4.1.3.1;Pertinent Rules for Colombia;56
4.1.3.2;Principle of Distinction and Prohibition of Indiscriminate Attacks;56
4.1.3.2.1;Reasons for the Loss of Protection and the Use of Lethal Force;58
4.1.3.2.2;Reasons for the Use of Lethal Force;59
4.1.3.2.3;Notion of ``Civilian´´;60
4.1.3.2.4;Notion of ``Member of the Armed Forces´´;60
4.1.3.2.4.1;Governmental Armed Forces;61
4.1.3.2.4.2;Organized Armed Groups;61
4.1.3.2.4.2.1;Civilians or Non-Civilians?;61
4.1.3.2.4.2.2;Exceptions;65
4.1.3.2.4.2.3;De facto Affiliation;65
4.1.3.2.4.2.4;Excursus: The Term ``Combatant´´ in IHL Ruling Non-International Conflict;66
4.1.3.2.4.3;Notion of ``Armed Forces´´ According to Article 3 GC I-IV;67
4.1.3.2.5;Summary;67
4.1.3.2.6;Direct Participation of Civilians in Hostilities;68
4.1.3.2.6.1;The Term ``Direct Participation in Hostilities´´;68
4.1.3.2.6.1.1;Threshold of Harm;70
4.1.3.2.6.1.2;Direct Causality;71
4.1.3.2.6.1.3;Belligerent Nexus;72
4.1.3.2.6.1.4;Preparatory and Final Measures with Regard to Direct Participation;73
4.1.3.2.6.2;Evaluation of the Three Constitutive Elements;73
4.1.3.2.6.2.1;Preliminary Considerations;73
4.1.3.2.6.2.2;Attempt to Define;75
4.1.3.2.6.3;Different Approaches regarding Personal Scope;75
4.1.3.2.6.4;Temporal Scope: Discontinuing the Loss of Protection;76
4.1.3.2.6.4.1;Civilians;77
4.1.3.2.6.4.2;Members of Organized Armed Groups;78
4.1.3.2.7;Presumption in Situations of Doubt;78
4.1.3.2.8;Summary;79
4.1.3.3;Restrictions on the Use of Lethal Force;80
4.1.3.3.1;Human Rights Approach;80
4.1.3.3.2;Principle of Military Necessity;83
4.1.3.3.2.1;Concept and Scope of Application;83
4.1.3.3.2.2;Permissive and Restrictive Functions;85
4.1.3.3.2.3;Necessity-Factor with Regard to the Use of Lethal Force;86
4.1.3.3.3;Safeguard of a Person Hors de Combat;88
4.1.3.3.3.1;Article 5 AP II;88
4.1.3.3.3.2;Article 3 GC I-IV;89
4.1.3.3.3.3;Customary Law;89
4.1.3.3.3.3.1;Category Two: Defencelessness;91
4.1.3.3.3.3.2;Category Three: Surrender;92
4.1.3.3.3.3.3;Summary of Category Two and Three;93
4.1.3.3.3.3.4;Category One: To Be in the Power of the Adverse Party;93
4.1.3.3.3.3.5;The Traditional View of the Legal Doctrine;96
4.1.3.3.3.3.6;Test of Practicability of the Proposed Definition;98
4.1.3.3.3.3.7;Meaning of ``Attack´´ under the Safeguard;98
4.1.3.3.3.3.8;The Proviso regarding the Safeguard;100
4.1.3.3.3.3.9;Summary and Definition of ``to Be in the Power´´;101
4.1.3.3.4;Relationship Between Hors de Combat and Military Necessity;102
4.1.3.3.5;Conclusion;103
4.1.3.4;Principle of Proportionality;104
4.1.3.5;Precautionary Measures;105
4.1.3.5.1;Precautionary Measures with regard to the Principle of Distinction;106
4.1.3.5.2;Precautionary Measures with regard to the Principle of Proportionality;107
4.1.3.6;The Prohibition and Restriction of Certain Means and Methods;108
4.1.3.6.1;Denial of Quarter;108
4.1.3.6.2;Perfidy;108
4.1.3.6.3;Specific Weapons;109
4.1.4;Killing under International Human Rights Law (Law Enforcement);109
4.1.4.1;The Right to Life in ICCPR and in ACHR;109
4.1.4.2;Origin of the Term ``Arbitrary´´;110
4.1.4.2.1;Travaux Préparatoires of the ICCPR;110
4.1.4.2.2;Travaux Préparatoires of the ACHR;111
4.1.4.2.3;Meaning of ``Arbitrary´´;111
4.1.4.3;``Legitimate Purpose´´ and ``Absolute Necessity´´;112
4.1.4.3.1;View of the United Nations´ Human Rights Bodies;112
4.1.4.3.2;View of the Inter-American Court on Human Rights and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights;113
4.1.4.3.3;European Convention on Human Rights as Interpretative Guidance;114
4.1.4.3.4;Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Off;115
4.1.4.3.5;Summary of ``Legitimate Purpose´´ and ``Absolute Necessity´´;117
4.1.4.3.5.1;Legitimate Purpose;117
4.1.4.3.5.2;Absolute Necessity;118
4.1.4.3.6;Is Terrorism a Legitimate Purpose?;119
4.1.4.4;Arbitrariness and Proportionality;120
4.1.4.4.1;Origin of the Rule;120
4.1.4.4.2;Content of the Rule;121
4.1.4.5;Arbitrariness and Legal Basis;122
4.1.4.5.1;Origin of the Legal Basis;122
4.1.4.5.2;Legal Basis in Colombia;123
4.1.4.6;Temporal Scope;124
4.1.4.7;Further Aspects?;124
4.1.4.8;Precaution, Control and Organisation of the Operation;125
4.1.4.8.1;Prevention of the Escalation of Violence;126
4.1.4.8.1.1;Arrest at an Appropriate Moment;126
4.1.4.8.1.2;Sufficient Set-Up;126
4.1.4.8.2;Evaluation of Available Intelligence Information;127
4.1.4.8.3;Minimization of Risks Caused by the Use of Firearms;127
4.1.5;Findings;127
4.1.5.1;Legitimacy of the Use of Lethal Force: Military Objective and Legitimate Purpose;128
4.1.5.2;Restrictions: The Necessity-Factor and the ``Least Harmful Means´´ Requirement;129
4.1.5.3;Precautionary Measures;130
4.1.5.4;Proportionality;131
4.1.5.5;Prohibition of and Restrictions on Certain Means and Methods;132
4.1.5.6;Summary;132
5;191945_1_En_4_Chapter_OnlinePDF;134
5.1;Chapter 4: Use of Lethal Force by the National Police of Colombia in Various Operations;134
5.1.1;Introductive Explanations;134
5.1.1.1;The Concerned Police Units;135
5.1.1.1.1;EMCAR;135
5.1.1.1.2;COPES;135
5.1.1.2;Justification of the Identified Operations;136
5.1.1.3;Methodology of the Identification of the Four Scenarios;136
5.1.2;General Aspects regarding the Operations;137
5.1.3;Scenario One;138
5.1.3.1;Planning;138
5.1.3.2;Execution;139
5.1.3.2.1;Localization of the Area;139
5.1.3.2.2;Deployment of the Police;139
5.1.3.2.3;Confrontation;139
5.1.3.3;Legal Assessment;140
5.1.3.3.1;Legal Framework Regulating the Scenario;140
5.1.3.3.2;Attack of a Military Objective;140
5.1.3.3.3;Restriction of Having Been Rendered Hors de Combat;142
5.1.3.3.4;Restriction Due to the Principle of Proportionality;142
5.1.3.3.5;Further Precautionary Measures;143
5.1.3.3.6;Prohibition and Restriction of Certain Means and Methods;143
5.1.4;Scenario Two;143
5.1.4.1;Planning;144
5.1.4.2;Execution;144
5.1.4.3;Legal Assessment;145
5.1.4.3.1;Requirements of IHL;146
5.1.4.3.1.1;Legal Framework that Regulates Scenario Two;146
5.1.4.3.1.2;Attack of a Military Objective;147
5.1.4.3.1.3;Restrictions Due to the Safeguard of a Person Hors de Combat;148
5.1.4.3.1.3.1;Defencelessness Due to Unconsciousness, Being Shipwrecked, Wounded or Sick;148
5.1.4.3.1.3.2;Clear Expression of the Intent to Surrender;148
5.1.4.3.1.3.3;To Be ``in the Power´´ of the Adversary;148
5.1.4.3.1.4;Principle of Proportionality;149
5.1.4.3.1.5;Further Precautionary Measures and the Prohibition and Restriction of Certain Means and Methods;149
5.1.4.3.2;Requirements of the International Law of Human Rights;150
5.1.4.3.2.1;Legitimate Purpose;150
5.1.4.3.2.1.1;Defence of One´s Life or that of Another;150
5.1.4.3.2.1.2;Prevention of Escape by Lawful Arrest;150
5.1.4.3.2.2;Absolute Necessity;151
5.1.4.3.2.3;Temporal Scope of Legitimate Purpose and Absolute Necessity;151
5.1.4.3.2.4;Proportionality;152
5.1.4.3.2.5;Precaution, Control and Organization of the Operation;152
5.1.4.3.2.5.1;Arrest at an Appropriate Moment;152
5.1.4.3.2.5.2;Sufficient Set-Up;153
5.1.4.3.2.5.3;Available Information;153
5.1.4.3.2.5.4;Minimization of Risks Due to the Use of Firearms;153
5.1.5;Scenario Three;154
5.1.5.1;Planning;154
5.1.5.2;Execution;155
5.1.5.3;Legal Assessment;155
5.1.5.3.1;Requirements in IHL;156
5.1.5.3.1.1;Legal Framework Regulating the Present Scenario;156
5.1.5.3.1.2;Direct Participation;157
5.1.5.3.1.2.1;Threshold of Harm;157
5.1.5.3.1.2.2;Direct Causality Between Hostile Acts and the Threshold of Harm;157
5.1.5.3.1.2.3;Belligerent Nexus;158
5.1.5.3.1.2.4;Temporal Scope: Spontaneous, Sporadic Participation;159
5.1.5.3.1.2.5;De facto Affiliation;159
5.1.5.3.1.2.6;Summary;160
5.1.5.3.1.3;Restrictions Due to the Safeguard of a Person Hors de Combat;160
5.1.5.3.1.3.1;Defencelessness Because of Unconsciousness, Being Shipwrecked, Wounded or Sick;161
5.1.5.3.1.3.2;To Be in the Power of the Adversary;161
5.1.5.3.1.4;Restrictions Due to the Principle of Proportionality, Further Precautionary Measures and the Prohibition and Restriction of Ce;161
5.1.5.3.2;Requirements in the International Law of Human Rights;162
5.1.5.3.2.1;Legitimate Purpose;162
5.1.5.3.2.2;Absolute Necessity;163
5.1.5.3.2.3;Temporal Scope;163
5.1.5.3.2.4;Proportionality;163
5.1.5.3.2.5;Precaution, Control and the Organization of the Operation;164
5.1.6;Scenario Four;165
5.1.6.1;Planning;165
5.1.6.2;Execution;166
5.1.6.3;Legal Assessment;166
5.1.6.3.1;Requirements in IHL;166
5.1.6.3.1.1;Legal Framework Regulating the Current Scenario;166
5.1.6.3.1.2;Attack of a Military Objective and the Use of Lethal Force;167
5.1.6.3.1.3;The Restriction of the Use of Lethal Force;167
5.1.6.3.2;Requirements in the International Law of Human Rights;167
5.1.6.3.2.1;Legitimate Purpose;167
5.1.6.3.2.2;Absolute Necessity;168
5.1.6.3.2.3;Temporal Scope;168
5.1.6.3.2.4;Proportionality;168
5.1.6.3.2.5;Precaution, Control and Organization of the Operation;169
5.1.6.3.2.5.1;Arrest at an Appropriate Moment;169
5.1.6.3.2.5.2;Sufficient Set-Up;169
5.1.6.3.2.5.3;Further Aspects;170
5.1.7;Findings;170
5.1.7.1;Causes of the Gray Area;170
5.1.7.2;Degree of Convergence between the Requirements in IHL and Human Rights;172
5.1.7.2.1;Shooting by the Attacked Individuals and Their Attempt to Escape;172
5.1.7.2.1.1;Use of Firearms by the Targeted People;172
5.1.7.2.1.2;Discontinuing the Use of Firearms;173
5.1.7.2.2;Escape of Unarmed Guards of the Coca Field and Their Behaviour in Further Situations;174
5.1.7.2.3;Attack with a Very Limited Set-Up;174
5.1.7.2.4;Summary of Escape and Limited Set-Up;175
5.1.7.2.5;Arrest at an Appropriate Moment;177
6;191945_1_En_5_Chapter_OnlinePDF;179
6.1;Chapter 5: Main Findings and Thesis Statement;179
6.1.1;Main Findings;179
6.1.2;Further Conclusions;180
6.1.3;Thesis Statement;181
7;191945_1_En_BookBackmatter_OnlinePDF;183