Family Demands Justice for Colombian Man Killed in US Military Strike
The family of Alejandro Carranza Medina, a Colombian fisherman killed in a US military strike on an alleged drug smuggling vessel in the Caribbean Sea, has filed a formal complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). The complaint accuses the United States of violating Carranza's right to life and due process, sparking international outrage and protests.
According to the family, Alejandro was a peaceful fisherman who had no ties to drug trafficking. His boat was reportedly adrift in the sea with its engine out of service when it was struck by a US military bomb on September 15, as part of President Donald Trump's anti-drug campaign. The family maintains that Carranza was on board the vessel and was killed in the explosion.
The complaint lodged by Alejandro's family accuses Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defense, of ordering the bombing despite not knowing the identity of those being targeted. It also claims that Trump himself "has ratified the conduct of Secretary Hegseth," fueling concerns about the involvement of senior administration officials in the deadly strike.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has publicly condemned the US bombings as extrajudicial killings, while Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro has accused Trump of using the pretext of drug trafficking to seek regime change in Caracas.
Human rights groups have long argued that the US military strikes on alleged drug smuggling vessels are likely illegal under both domestic and international law. They argue that targeting civilians is a war crime, and that the strikes do not meet the criteria for self-defence.
The Trump administration has distanced itself from the initial strike, claiming that Navy Vice Admiral Frank "Mitch" Bradley ordered the follow-up attack. However, the White House maintains that the order was given within Hegseth's authority and the law.
The US military surge to the Caribbean and Trump's renewed threats of land strikes on Venezuela have heightened tensions in the region. The IACHR complaint is a significant development in this ongoing controversy, as it seeks justice for Alejandro Carranza Medina and his family.
The family of Alejandro Carranza Medina, a Colombian fisherman killed in a US military strike on an alleged drug smuggling vessel in the Caribbean Sea, has filed a formal complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). The complaint accuses the United States of violating Carranza's right to life and due process, sparking international outrage and protests.
According to the family, Alejandro was a peaceful fisherman who had no ties to drug trafficking. His boat was reportedly adrift in the sea with its engine out of service when it was struck by a US military bomb on September 15, as part of President Donald Trump's anti-drug campaign. The family maintains that Carranza was on board the vessel and was killed in the explosion.
The complaint lodged by Alejandro's family accuses Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defense, of ordering the bombing despite not knowing the identity of those being targeted. It also claims that Trump himself "has ratified the conduct of Secretary Hegseth," fueling concerns about the involvement of senior administration officials in the deadly strike.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has publicly condemned the US bombings as extrajudicial killings, while Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro has accused Trump of using the pretext of drug trafficking to seek regime change in Caracas.
Human rights groups have long argued that the US military strikes on alleged drug smuggling vessels are likely illegal under both domestic and international law. They argue that targeting civilians is a war crime, and that the strikes do not meet the criteria for self-defence.
The Trump administration has distanced itself from the initial strike, claiming that Navy Vice Admiral Frank "Mitch" Bradley ordered the follow-up attack. However, the White House maintains that the order was given within Hegseth's authority and the law.
The US military surge to the Caribbean and Trump's renewed threats of land strikes on Venezuela have heightened tensions in the region. The IACHR complaint is a significant development in this ongoing controversy, as it seeks justice for Alejandro Carranza Medina and his family.
this all feels so wrong...Alejandro was just trying to make a living from the sea and now he's gone 
what really gets me is that his boat wasn't even moving when the bomb went off 
it's not like it was some kind of threat, just a peaceful fisherman doing his thing. I feel bad for his family having to go through all this drama and seeking justice at the international level 
this is getting crazy 
i mean what even is going on with trump's administration? killing some colombian fisherman by mistake just to boost the anti-drug campaign 
and now his own secretary of defense is being called out for it 
the IACHR complaint is definitely a step in the right direction though 
justice should be served for alejandro's family, they deserve answers 
This is just getting out of hand. What kinda operation do US military strike without proper intel? Poor dude was just fishing, no crime at all 
. The fact that Trump's team has downplayed the whole thing now makes it even more suspicious... it's like they're trying to sweep this under the rug 
. Can't we just have some accountability here? What about due process for these military ops? It's not like it's a black-and-white issue, but I guess when there's money at stake and politicians on the line, all bets are off 
.
. The fact that Colombian President Petro is calling it an "extrajudicial killing" says a lot about how this whole situation smells 
.
. can't you just use headings and stuff to make it readable? i swear, sometimes i feel like i'm stuck in some kind of digital cave-in 
.
.
It's like, if I was running the show around here and someone did something wrong, would I also just shift the blame on my right-hand man?
. Meanwhile, Colombia is all like "Hey, can you guys just chill with our guy Alejandro?" 
.