Honor Watada
Ehren K. Watada (* 1978 in Honolulu , Hawaii ) is an American officer of Japanese descent from Hawaii, who in June 2006 refused to give orders for the war in Iraq because, in his opinion, the war in America was "immoral" and "simply unlawful" . Watada is considered the first officer who, like more than 100 ordinary soldiers before, has to answer to a US military tribunal.
From 5 February 2007, he was for it before a military court in Fort Lewis in the US state of Washington , where he after the Uniform Code of Military Justice was accused for lack when laying the unit (Article 87), two-time disregard for superiors ( Article 88) and three times indecent conduct (Article 133). Ehren Watada could face up to four years imprisonment if convicted.
Although the trial was essentially about whether the Iraq war was indeed a crime, the presiding judge declined to hear the matter and did not admit any witnesses. It is only about the refusal to obey, not the question of the legitimacy of the Iraq war.
The case was closed on May 9, 2009 at the request of the Ministry of Justice .
Quotes
“I made the decision because I saw so much suffering and pain. With the soldiers and their families, with innocent Iraqis and people around the world. For what I see as a deception and an abuse of trust in the American people. "
“My comrades fight and die in Iraq and their families suffer because of the lies and deceit of the Bush administration . The Iraq war is not only a crime against domestic and international law, it is above all a terrible moral injustice against the Iraqi people. "
Web links
- US officer in court for refusal to deploy - tagesschau.de (tagesschau.de archive)
- The patriotic refuser . Portrait of Honor Watadas by Adrienne Woltersdorf in the taz on February 5, 2007 The patriotic refusal . Portrait honoring Watada by Adrienne Woltersdorf in the taz dated February 5, 2007
- Biography and explanation of Watada (English; PDF file; 113 kB)
swell
- ↑ cf. US officer in court for refusal to deploy - tagesschau.de (tagesschau.de archive)
- ↑ cf. http://www.trueten.de/archives/1002-5.-Februar-2007-Demonstration-und-Kundgebung-in-Ft.-Lewis,-Washington-gegen-Verigung-von-Ehren-Watada-geplant.html
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Watada, honors |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Watada, Honor K. |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American officer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1978 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Honolulu , Hawaii |