Topic: Status of Defense Contractors and Non-National Combatants
Country: El Salvador
Delegate Name: Kacey Lawniczak
School: Royal Oak High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All El Salvador position papers GLIMUN 2008 committees
The Republic of El Salvador firmly believes that the matter of Defense Contractors and Non-National Combatants is a critical topic to be discussed in the world. This issue directly affects the many of the people in El Salvador because our people are currently being recruited by the powers and money of other nations. El Salvador entirely supports any global effort to determine protections for our people and the people of other nations who are lured into various combats.
In recent times, the issue of defense contractors and non-national combatants has risen all around the globe. A prime example of this is happening in the conflict in Iraq. Estimates based on the news accounts indicate over 10,000 people, around the world, are employed by security firms. This amount continues to expand, especially in Iraq. Some Americans want to go home, and the El Salvadorian people, as well as people from other countries, are filling in the gap. Peter Singer from the Brookings Institution in Washington estimates that people from 25 countries are working for security firms in Iraq. The people in these countries are in such desperate need of financial aid, they are willing to leave their homes to make money, so their families can be fed.
The people of El Salvador are directly involved in this growing industry. Many people of El Salvador are in poverty and are in of need of monetary aid. As a last resort, the people sometimes look for to such opportunities to feed their families and themselves. A common wage of $200 a month is nothing compared to the some $1,240 a month some contractors are offering. With the current economic situation, many people in El Salvador are either unemployed or making minimum wages. Furthermore, because of the twelve year civil war that we faced, numerous citizens are trained in combat, making us a perfect recruiting ground for soldiers. In Iraq, many soldiers are needed and the Salvadorians are a perfect target. The question is: what happens to those soldiers if they are captured? Are they prisoners of war, or are they treated as citizens? In addition, are the prisoners’ armed forces, or are they terrorists or guerrillas?
El Salvador believes that if combatants are captured and found with a valid identification card, which the armed forces provided, the combatants are permitted to be treated as a prisoner of war. On the opposing side, if defense contractors of combatants do not have valid identification cards or if they have made acts of violence in a war zone, then they have lost the right to be a prisoner of war
The Republic of El Salvador agrees with article 44 of protocol 1 which states that, all combatants have been given a status that is equivalent to a prisoner of war. We also agree with the fact that in order to be recognized as a combatant, the individual must be distinguishable from citizens, as to protect the citizens. In addition, the combatants need to be carrying their firearms, in case of the fact the combatants cannot distinguish themselves.
It is time to clearly define and protect non-national combatants. The rules for these people must be made clear, for all to see. The combatants should be held to the standards of all rules of war, and allowed the same benefits if captured.
