Intergalactic Summit

I think this may be the first time I have heard an Amarrian use that term, are we rubbing off on you Rodj?

Ms. Farel,
Perhaps I can shed a little light on your concerns. The Disciples of Ston happened upon five "Slavers" who were jettisoned by a pilot along with a group of slaves. The whole group was rescued from death in space. The former slaves were taken to one of our Matriculation Centers. We didn't know what to do with the slave traders. We didn't want to just hand them over and later find our that they have been executed. We are generally opposed to the death penalty. We also didn't want to see them condemned to multi-generational slavery. So, what to do? We asked a lot of questions of other pilots and received no definitive answers. So, we put the word out to Concord in Yulai that we had these criminals in a detention center that we set up in Korama. We asked Concord to please come and get these prisoners. As Capsuleers, we fall under Concord's jurisdiction so we pleaded with Concord to help us out. Concord has yet to respond, so the five criminal slave traders remain at our facility in Korama. Ston may have given the sense that we run a prison. We don't. We kept these criminals because we didn't want to see them executed or their generations enslaved. So again we say, "Concord, please send someone to pick up these criminals." All we want is assurance that they will be treated humanely, not executed, or condemned to generational slavery.

You raise important questions and we don't want to be presumptuous and arrogant in this matter while at the same time, we want to live in accord with our values as an organization. We are open to your suggestions and those of anyone else.

I know right? Worth a shot though.

If you are all going to take such a hyper-defensive stance as usual and let your loyal imperial soldiers and sailors rot in my prisons, then that's on you pal.

Call me crazy, but aren't there rules of engagement regarding POWs? Specifically, that you're not allowed to sell your prisoners into slavery?

Then again, I suppose I shouldn't expect real benevolence from Amarr.

You called some of your prisoners 'former slaves'; that means that they were, at one point, slaves -- and now they are not. You are actively sending captured POWs to enslavement.

ConCord has made policy on the treatment of prisoners of war: while incarcerated, POWs are not to be subjected to outrages against personal dignity, in particular humiliating or degrading treatment.

I would be very surprised if this doesn't spark a political incident with your prisoners' homeworlds.

The Disciples of Ston are willing to present yet another option. Ms. Goldcore, you mentioned in a previous post, "My chief of staff suggested I just vent them out the airlock, he doesn't have a particular fondness for rebels; even if he meant it in jest." I am sure it was indeed in jest but it brings out an important point about war. In war, shortcuts can and are taken and sometimes such things are said in seriousness and not in jest. While I appreciate Ms. Goldcore's humane treatment of prisoners, I do not assume that all warring parties practice the same.

We would like to offer our detention center as an in between point for P.O.W.s while conflicting governments and pilots decide what to do. When officials with proper documentation are ready to transfer the prisoners to their own facilities, we would hand them over. We would also serve a place where prisoners could be held, be treated well, and be kept safe while prisoner exchanges are being negotiated.

We realize that busy pilots often do have the time nor inclination to properly house and care for prisoners. We would like to offer our services to any who have prisoners but do wish to administrate their care. Any disciple can be contacted if there is interest.

Why are Minmatar milita pilots still referred to by some as rebels? The Amarr Empire itself recognizes the legitimate sovereignty of the Minmatar Republic, but apparently some of its subjects are a little slow and haven't quite caught on yet.

While we are] in agreement that a proper impartial military tribunal should be convened for prisoners of war, taking POWs as slaves blatanty violates the rules of engagement.

If you choose to proceed with this action, you risk political backlash from the soldiers' homeworlds.

I hope you're prepared.

*Jaana opens the channel after lurking for several long sessions*

Good afternoon, sir. Lieutenant Jaana Venser, Caldari State War Academy.

From the course of these discussions, it appears that the creation of such conventions are, indeed, in order.

After the discussion of this matter with my chain of command, I have been authorized to begin proceedings to draft a document for the purposes of formalizing the rules of engagement regarding the treatment of prisoners of war, the duties and responsibilities of they and their captors, and the proper procedure for repatriation and potential prisoner exchange.

If able, I will also include regulations pursuant to the detainment of political prisoners, the treatment of civilians in wartime, and an 'acceptable target' strategy that (I hope) will outline ROE regarding the treatment of civilians and non-combatants.

When the project has progressed to a suitable degree, I will make a further post outlining the document and its goals.