HRW's Laetitia Bader reports on military courts, summary executions in Somalia

Al Jazeera has this devastating essay by Human Rights Watch's Laetitia Bader about summary executions in Somalia. It includes a link to the 2003 Principles and Guidelines Relating to the Right to a Fair Trial and Legal Assistance in Africa, which provide in part:

G. RIGHT OF CIVILIANS NOT TO BE TRIED BY MILITARY COURTS:

a) The only purpose of Military Courts shall be to determine offences of a purely military nature committed by military personnel.

b) While exercising this function, Military Courts are required to respect fair trial standards enunciated in the African Charter and in these guidelines.

c) Military courts should not in any circumstances whatsoever have jurisdiction over civilians. Similarly, Special Tribunals should not try offences which fall within the jurisdiction of regular courts.