The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed on Wednesday serious concern over an "intentional misuse" of the red cross emblem by the Colombian military last month.
The "intentional misuse" of the emblem happened on July 2 during a military operation to free 15 hostages held by a rebel group, the Geneva-based humanitarian agency said in a statement.
Video footage aired this week on Colombian television reveals that a member of the army team involved was wearing a tabard marked with the red cross emblem before the operation had even begun, suggesting intentional misuse, the statement said.
"If authenticated, these images would clearly establish an improper use of the red cross emblem, which we deplore," said Dominik Stillhart, the ICRC's deputy director of operations.
The use of the red cross, red crescent and red crystal emblems is governed by the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.
These emblems may not be used by bodies or persons not entitled to do so under international humanitarian law.
"We are in contact with the Colombian authorities to ask for further clarifications as to exactly what happened," said Stillhart.
Source:Xinhua
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