Colombian Family Demands Justice: US Airstrikes Under Human Rights Scrutiny
A Colombian family has escalated their quest for justice, taking their case against the United States to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. They seek accountability for the death of Alejandro Carranza, a 42-year-old fisherman, allegedly killed in a US airstrike off Colombia's Pacific coast on September 15.
Broader Context: The Trump Administration's Anti-Drug Offensive
This individual complaint forms part of a broader legal challenge targeting the Trump administration's aggressive anti-drug offensive. According to the family's lawyer, Daniel Kovalik, these US military strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific have claimed at least 83 lives, predominantly through targeted missile attacks on vessels suspected of drug trafficking.
Kovalik, who previously represented Colombian President Gustavo Petro, has accused the US of extrajudicial killing and severe human rights violations. He aims to hold key US officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, responsible for ordering these lethal operations. Kovalik expressed a desire for Hegseth's dismissal, apologies, compensation for victims, and an immediate cessation of the strikes.
US Justification and Congressional Scrutiny
The White House, through spokeswoman Anna Kelly, defended the actions, stating the strikes are a crucial component of President Trump's strategy against drug cartels. Kelly asserted that all targeted operations have been against "designated narcoterrorists," as confirmed by US intelligence, who are responsible for bringing "deadly poison to our shores."
The Trump administration justifies its campaign by classifying it as a non-international armed conflict against drug cartels, which it claims are responsible for thousands of deaths in the United States. It has labeled these groups as terrorists and described illegal narcotics as a weapon, arguing that attacks on suspected traffickers constitute self-defense and adhere to the law of armed conflict. The Pentagon has yet to comment on these specific allegations.
Meanwhile, members of Congress have announced their intention to investigate whether the US military committed war crimes during these recent airstrikes.
Seeking Impact Through Advocacy and Public Pressure
While the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, an autonomous human rights watchdog under the Organization of American States, lacks direct legal enforcement powers, Kovalik believes that bringing this case forward will encourage other victims to come forward. He anticipates increased public scrutiny of the Trump administration's actions. "Someone's got to be first," Kovalik remarked, noting that initial steps often inspire broader support and action.
Kovalik met with Carranza's family in November during a trip to Colombia to consult with President Petro. He is optimistic that a favorable decision from the commission, coupled with mounting public pressure, could sway public opinion and influence the administration. Kovalik suggested that President Trump, sensitive to poll numbers, might respond to growing public disapproval, especially following a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showing his approval rating at a low of 38% since his return to power.
The Inter-American Commission itself has not publicly commented on Carranza's case but has previously condemned the Trump administration's military strikes. In a recent statement, it urged the US to "refrain from using lethal military force in the context of public security operations."