The Geneva Conventions, as they now stand, are a revision and updating of Conventions originally written in the mid 19th century in reaction to the horrors of war. They were designed among other things, to establish minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners of war and the protection of civilians and non-combatants. As updated in 1949, the Third Convention included definitions of “combatants”, “protected persons” and “perfidy”. The 1977 Protocol I, which has not been universally ratified, continued to included perfidy, the necessity for national emblems on combatant’s forces and required minimum treatment for anyone captured in combat. Even though Protocol I permitted some fighters to enter into combat without uniform, it required that such fighters carry their arms openly before and during combat, and to avoid “perfidy”. They were/are bound by requirements to protect prisoners.
Among the many reasons such rules were instituted were (1) to protect civilian populations from attack and (2) to allow combatants to distinguish who the enemy was.
Currently, in Afghanistan, Canadian and other NATO troops have come in for criticism because, in the course of military operations, there have been civilian casualties. However, the Taliban do not operate in accordance with any of the Geneva conventions, or their Protocols. Thus, they conceal themselves in civilian dress, and do not carry their arms openly. They utilize “perfidy” in violation of the Conventions and Protocols.
Apart from the illegality of their actions, the fact is that it is this behaviour that contributes to the civilian death toll. Canadian and NATO troops are entitled to defend themselves. If, in the course of defending themselves they have problems distinguishing the enemy from the civilians, the fault is not theirs.
Among the many reasons such rules were instituted were (1) to protect civilian populations from attack and (2) to allow combatants to distinguish who the enemy was.
Currently, in Afghanistan, Canadian and other NATO troops have come in for criticism because, in the course of military operations, there have been civilian casualties. However, the Taliban do not operate in accordance with any of the Geneva conventions, or their Protocols. Thus, they conceal themselves in civilian dress, and do not carry their arms openly. They utilize “perfidy” in violation of the Conventions and Protocols.
Apart from the illegality of their actions, the fact is that it is this behaviour that contributes to the civilian death toll. Canadian and NATO troops are entitled to defend themselves. If, in the course of defending themselves they have problems distinguishing the enemy from the civilians, the fault is not theirs.
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