Det danske Fredsakademi
Kronologi over fredssagen og international politik 3. november 2006 / Timeline November 3, 2006
Version 3.52. November 2006, 4. November 2006
11/03/2006
Cconscientious objection to military service protected by
article 18
of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
On 3 November 2006, the Human Rights Committee made clear, once and
for all, that conscientious objection to military service is
protected by Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights.
Article 18 covers the right to freedom of thought, conscience and
religion and to manifest that religion or belief.
Paragraph 3 of that Article permits some limitations on
manifestation of religion or belief but only those prescribed by
law and "necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or
morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others".
The Committee's decision concerned two Jehovah's Witnesses in the
Republic of Korea (South Korea), a country which has conscription
(compulsory military service) with no recognition of conscientious
objection or provision for alternative civilian service. As a
result, these conscientious objectors had been imprisoned for their
refusal to undertake military service.
In its 3 November decision, the Human Rights Committee adopted its
views under the Optional Protocol to the Covenant, concluding that
the Republic of Korea had violated Article 18, paragraph 1, of the
Covenant. Therefore, the State was obliged to provide the
individuals concerned with an effective remedy, including
compensation.
In addition, it was under an obligation to avoid similar violations
of the Covenant in the future.
In reaching this conclusion, the Committee noted that: the authors'
refusal to be drafted for compulsory service was a direct
expression of their religious beliefs, which it is uncontested were
genuinely held; while the right to manifest one's religion or
belief does not as such imply the right to refuse all obligations
imposed by law, it provides certain protection, consistent with
article 18, paragraph 3, against being forced to act against
genuinely-held religious belief; the authors' conviction and
sentence amount to a restriction on their ability to manifest their
religion or belief; such restriction must be justified by the
permissible limits described in paragraph 3 of article 18; such
restriction must not impair the very essence of the right in
question. Conscientious Objection to Military Service:
An historic decision
The Human Rights Committee is the body of independent experts which
oversees the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights. All States which are parties to the Covenant
report to the Committee on a regular basis. The Committee questions
them and makes Concluding Observations highlighting improvements
needed as well as progress made. In addition, the Committee
produces General Comments clarifying and interpreting the
Covenant's provisions. In those States which are also parties to
the First Optional Protocol, individuals can send the Committee
complaints about alleged violations of the Covenant.
11/03/2006
New Air Force Command to Fight in Cyberspace: the new Air Force Cyberspace Command
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2006 - The Air Force's new cyberspace command
will redefine air power for the 21st century and bring the fight to
a realm that the enemy has already exploited extensively, the
general in charge of the new command said here yesterday.
Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne announced yesterday that the
8th Air Force, led by Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Elder, will become
the service's new cyberspace command, focused on taking the fight
against terrorism to the technological realm.
In December 2005, the Air Force mission statement was amended to
include cyberspace as an operational domain -- along with air and
space. The service stood up a cyberspace task force in January to
gather data and explore how the service can operate in
cyberspace.
"There's definitely a lot more interest in using cyberspace as a
warfighting domain, at least with our adversaries, and that's what
we're trying to counter," Elder said at a media roundtable
yesterday. "If they want to fight with us in cyberspace, we're
willing to take them on there, too."
Cyberspace, as it will be covered by the new command, includes the
Internet and other computer networks, as well as the
electromagnetic spectrum, which encompasses many things people rely
on every day, Elder said. Terrorists have already exploited the
electromagnetic spectrum in many ways, Lani Kass, director of the
cyberspace task force, said at the roundtable. She noted the use of
improvised explosive devices in Iraq, and the Sept. 11, 2001,
masterminds using the internet and satellite communications to plan
the attack, and simulators to practice the attack.
"We are already at war in cyberspace," Kass said. "Our enemies are
using the very low technical skills and low entry costs associated
with being able to function in this domain in order to attack us
asymmetrically."
The Air Force has been operating in cyberspace for some time, but
the efforts have been widely dispersed, Elder said. Also,
cyberspace efforts until now have been mostly focused on defensive
operations to protect the Air Force's network, he said.
11/03/2006
CONTRACTS from the United States Department of Defense
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, Carson, Calif., is being awarded
a $28,879,568 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification. The Space
Superiority Systems Wing is exercising an award term option as a
new contract to continue development architectures to support the
space control mission area, offensive counterspace, defensive
counterspace, and space situational awareness. The period of
performance is 1 November 2006 through 31 October 2008. At this
time, $2,000,000 have been obligated. This work will be complete
October 2008. Headquarters Space and Missile Systems Center, Los
Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity
(FA8819-07-C-0002/No modification number at this time).
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