Reuters: Ukrainian prisoners forced to hunt for dead comrades in airport rubble
The gunmen lined up around 20 pale-looking prisoners in two silent rows in the ruins of the airport terminal. Somehow still clinging to a wall pulverized by bullets and artillery was a sign marked "Lost and Found".
The captured Ukrainian soldiers had been brought into the ruins of the airport and ordered to hunt for the dead bodies of their comrades under pieces of concrete.
WNU Editor: A breach of the Geneva rules when it comes to treating prisoners .... but here is an interesting Catch 22 position .... the Ukraine government cannot complain because they have labeled the pro-Russian rebel forces as terrorists, and by issuing a complaint they would be officially acknowledging that the pro-Russian rebels are a military force. As to the grim task of finding bodies .... the Ukraine government has admitted that 1,200 soldiers have not been accounted for .... it would not surprise me if some of them are buried at the airport.
More News On The Grim Task Of Searching For Bodies At Donetsk Airport
Captive Ukrainian soldiers dig out the bodies of comrades killed in Donetsk airport battle -- USA Today/AP
Ukrainian POWs comb ruins of Donetsk airport for dead comrades -- AFP
Digging out the dead in eastern Ukraine -- Al Jazeera
Ukrainian prisoners of war recover bodies at Donetsk airport -- Ukraine Today
Separatists find bodies of 30 dead Ukrainian soldiers at Donetsk Airport -- Global Post/EFE
Using POW's for burial parties, and for the recovery of bodies in a non-combat zone, isn't illegal, nor is putting them to work clearing rubble.
ReplyDeleteAnd was common in WWII, and the Korean War.
"Section III. Labour of Prisoners of War
Art 49. The Detaining Power may utilize the labour of prisoners of war who are physically fit, taking into account their age, sex, rank and physical aptitude, and with a view particularly to maintaining them in a good state of physical and mental health."
True, but article 52 talks about dangerous or humiliating work. https://www.icrc.org/applic/ihl/ihl.nsf/Article.xsp?action=openDocument&documentId=4BF464F03F1BCF78C12563CD0051AECD
ReplyDeleteIs this work at Donetsk airport dangerous .... I do not think so but apparently some do.
WNU Editor,
ReplyDeleteIt's been demined and stabilized, so "dangerous" is relative in a War Zone. DPR volenteers and Militia members worked alongside them, so,.....
There might be a case for " humiliation", but that is subjective. It has long been a case that Administrations have "made" POW's "face" the damage "they" have done.