Nuremberg, Once the Hope of the World

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By Steve Osborn (about the author) Page 1 of 2 page(s)

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For OpEdNews: Steve Osborn - Writer

AT the close of World War Two, the Nuremberg Tribunals were held, to hold the Nazis accountable for their war crimes and genocidal policies. They were held by the international community, led by the United States of America.

Out of the Tribunals came the Nuremberg Principles. The world was a happy place at that time, for under the Nuremberg Principles, war had become a criminal act, along with torture, slavery, and many other evils. Perpetrators were liable to criminal prosecution in an International Court of Law for perpetrating wars and the other evils outlined in the Principles.

To jog the memory, here are the Principles.

The Nuremberg Principles

Principle I. Any person who commits an act which constitutes a crime under international law is responsible therefore and liable to punishment.

Principle II. The fact that internal law does not impose a penalty for an act which constitutes a crime under international law does not relieve the person who committed the act from responsibility under international law.

Principle III. The fact that a person who committed an act which constitutes a crime under international law acted as Head of State or responsible government official does not relieve him from responsibility under international law.

Principle IV. The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him.

Principle V. Any person charged with a crime under international law has the right to a fair trial on the facts and law.

Principle VI. The crimes hereinafter set out are punishable as crimes under international law:

   (a) Crimes against peace:

       (i) Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances;

       (ii) Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the acts mentioned under (i).

   (b) War Crimes:

Violations of the laws or customs of war which include, but are not limited to, murder, ill-treatment or deportation of slave-labour or for any other purpose of the civilian population of or in occupied territory, murder or ill-treatment of prisoners of war or persons on the seas, killing of hostages, plunder of public or private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns, or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity.

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Biobyte: Stephen M. Osborn is a freelance writer living on Camano Island in the Pacific Northwest. He is a columnist for the Populist Party website and has had a number of articles published internationally. He is an "Atomic Vet." (Operation (more...)

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