Pil Reviewer
Pil Reviewer
Pil Reviewer
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Public International Law governs the relationship among States and also their relations with international organizations and individual persons. Private International Law (Conflict of Laws) is domestic law which deals with cases wherein foreign law intrudes into the domestic sphere. It concerns: first, in which legal jurisdiction may a case be heard; and second, the law concerning which jurisdiction applies to the issues in a case.
JUS GENTIUM AND JUS INTER GENTES AS ELEMENTS OF PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW.
What is jus gentium? Jus gentium was originally part of Roman Law that the Romans applied to its dealings with foreigners, especially provincial subjects. Presently, it is used to refer to the natural or common law among nations considered as States within a larger human society, especially governing the rules of peace and war, national bounderies, diplomatic exchanges, and extradition. Together with jus inter gentes, jus gentium makes up Public International Law. What is jus inter gentes? Jus inter gentes consists of agreements between nations and includes the body of treaties, UN conventions, international agreements, and internationally recognized human rights.
2. 3.
What is the difference between Public International Law and Private International Law?
1 2
Restatement of Foreign Relations Law of the United States Bernas; Public International Law, 2010.
pacta sunt servanda simply means that agreements made must be complied with in good faith. This principle is found in Article 26 of the VCLT.
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4 The Treaty of Versailles was entered into in June 28, 1919. It was primarily for the purpose of ending World War 1 and charged former German Emperor, Wilhelm II, with supreme offense against international morality. He is to be tried as a war criminal. 5 Lecture, November 18, 2010
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I. INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
What is a treaty? A treaty is defined an international agreement concluded between states in written form and governed by international law, whether embodied in a single instrument or in two or more related instruments and whatever its particular designation.7
II. CUSTOM
What is custom? According to the North Sea Continental Shelf Cases, it consists of unwritten rules evinced from the generality and uniformity of the practice of States and is adhered to by such states out of a sense of legal obligation or opinio juris. There are, therefore, two elements of custom: 1. State Practice
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State practice has three elements: (a) Duration o There is no required length of time before a particular state practice may be considered custom. Provided that the principles of consistency and generality are proven, there is no necessity of passage of a long period of time. However, the passage of time can also be evidence of generality and uniformity. o Example: exemption of fishing vessels from being captured as prize of war (Paquete Havana case) o Is there such a thing as instant custom? YES. According to the ICJ in the North Sea Continental Shelf Cases, an instant custom, involving a fairly quick maturing of practice, may emerge. As already discussed above, so long as consistency and generality are proven, state practice need not be extant for long periods of time. Consistency and generality are sufficient to evidence a general recognition for a legal obligation. (b) Consistency o State practice must be continuous and repetitive. o Consistency was discussed in the Asylum Case. In this case, however, the Court held that Colombia was not able to prove the constant and uniform practice of unilateral right of refuge of a State and an obligation upon the territorial state. (c) Generality o Practice need not be exactly the same throughout States; it only needs to be substantial. o Universality is not required. As a matter of fact, according to the Asylum Case, there are instances when a regional custom, or a practice present and binding only to a particular region, may arise. 2. Opinio Juris
Opinio Juris is the belief that a certain form of behavior constitutes a legal obligation. According to Brierly, it is the recognition by States that a certain practice is obligatory and that it requires a conception that the practice is required by or consistent with prevailing international law. It means that a State abides by a practice because of a sense of legal obligation, as opposed to motives of courtesy, fairness, or morality. What is wrong with this definition of opinio juris?8
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parties ratification of that treaty is an expression of their consent to be bound by such, and the principle of pacta sunt servanda should be observed. Situation 2: If a treaty was entered into before a custom develops, the rules are not clear. It would seem that custom, being the latter intention, should prevail. This, however, would run counter to the very nature of a treaty. In the Continental Shelf case, the court attempted to reconcile treaties with custom. In practice, therefore, the solution to this situation would be to reconcile custom with treaty provisions.
IV. JUDICIAL DECISIONS AND WORKS OF THE MOST HIGHLY QUALIFIED PUBLICISTS
Judicial Decisions under municipal law and works of MHQP are regarded as subsidiary sources of international law. What this means is that they are subject to the Statute provision on consent11, meaning that the decisions have no binding effect except as regards State-parties that gave their consent. MHQPs are generally authorities such as writers and publicists. There is really no specific qualification, but the acceptance of the writings of these MHQPs depend on the judges themselves and the courts tradition. Examples of MHQPs: Brownlie (wrote on everything about basic international law), UN reporters and special rappertours, Malcolm Shaw
Lecture, November 25, 2010 will be discussed in greater detail later, but for the purposes of instant custom, an armed attack situation is the ONLY valid justification for a State to violate the provision against the use of force under Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.
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Soft Law These are international agreements not concluded as treaties but are actually practiced with consistency and uniformity. They have not, but are in the process of, achieving the status of custom. Example: duty to protect the environment16
Lecture, December 2, 2010 Atty. Gatdula 14 The Meuse River Case, evincing the doctrine of unclean hands. 15 Adopted April 28, 2006, commiting the Council to protect civilians in cases of armed conflicts.
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TREATY, DEFINED.
! ! It is a written agreement between States, governed by international law, and embodied in a single instrument or a series of related instruments, in whatever designation it may be given.18 It is a formal agreement, usually but not necessarily in writing, which is entered into by the states or entities possessing the treaty-making capacity, for the purpose of regulating their mutual relations under the law of nations. 19
Is there such a thing as an oral treaty? YES, however such treaties would not come within the contemplation of the VCLT and therefore would not be governed by the VCLT. There is really no required form, but the treaty, to come under the definition of the VCLT, must at least be in writing, agreed to by the States, and governed by international law. In Qatar v. Bahrain, the ICJ held that a mere exchange of letters constitutes a valid treaty between the two States. What is the effect of unilateral declarations? The Court held in the Nuclear Test Cases that unilateral declarations can have the effect of creating legal obligations when two elements are present: first, there is clear intent to be bound by the declaration, and second, the commitment is very specific.
FUNCTION OF TREATIES
Generally, treaties serve as sources of international law, charters of international organizations, means of settling disputes, among other things.
KINDS OF TREATIES
1. Multilateral treaties o Multilateral treaties are generally open to all States o Examples: o Geneva Convention, Rome Statute20
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ESSENTIAL REQUISITES TO A VALID TREATY (1) Treaty-making capacity ! A treaty to be valid must be entered into by parties with treaty making capacity. ! All states have full treaty-making capacity unless limited by reason of their status and previous self-imposed inhibitions. ! The United Nations and its organs (i.e. the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council) and international bodies like the World Health Organization may enter into treaties. (2) Authorized representatives ! It is for municipal law to determine which organ of the state shall be empowered to enter into treaties in its behalf. (i.e. The Constitution authorizes the President to make treaties subject to a concurrence of twothirds of all the members of the Senate). ! General Rule: A state is not bound by a treaty made in its behalf by an organ or authority not competent under the law to conclude the treaty. Exception: A state may be responsible for an injury resulting to another state for reasonable reliace by the latter upon the misrepresentation of the former.21 (3) Freedom to consent ! Fraud or mistake will invalidate a treaty as it would an ordinary contract. (4) Lawful Subject Matter ! When the subject matter of a treaty is illegal, it is rendered null and void. ! Example: The Treaty of Tordesillas of 1949 is invalid for illegality of the subject matter insofar as it sought to divide between Spain and Portugal parts of theAtlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans which are opean seas. (5) Compliance with the Constitutional Processes ! Ratification processes are governed by municipal law. Non-compliance with this requisite will prevent the enforcement of the treaty even if already signed by the negotiators.
Hereinafter, VCLT Art. 2 par. 1(b) VCLT 19 Cruz 20 July 17, 1988
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Step 1: Negotiation Negotiations are usually done through foreign ministries. Negotiators have the power to negotiate, naturally, a treaty entered into by one who is not authorized to do so is invalid and without effect. Two elements must be present for someone to be considered with full powers to represent a state: (1) he produces appropriate full powers (2) The practice of States so provide for evidence that there is an intention to consider that person a representative of the State. Who are empowered to enter into treaties as representatives of their States? (1) Heads of States (2) Ministers of Foreign Affairs (3) heads of diplomatic missions (4) accredited representatives of States to international conferences or to an international organization. Step 2: Authentication This is evidenced by the signing of the document. The manner by which such authentication is primarily guided by the procedures set forth in the treaty itself. If not followed, then the signature ad referendum or initialing of representatives will serve as sufficient authentication.22 Step 3: Consent to be bound There are several means of expressing consent: signing, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, exchange of instruments, or other means if so agreed. 1. Signing The act of signing will have the effect of binding a state to the treaty when the treaty so provides, or when it is the intention of the parties that the signature would have that effect, or when the parties agree that the signature would have that effect.23 2. Exchange of Instruments The exchange of instruments will have the effect of binding a state to the treaty when the instruments themselves provide for such effect, or when it is otherwise established that the States agreed that the exchange would produce that effect.24 3. Ratification, approval or acceptance
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4.
The ratification, approval or acceptance will have the effect of binding a state to a treaty when the treaty so provides, the States agreed to give it that effect, the representative of the State signed it subject to ratification, or the States so intended.25 Ratification is followed by either an exchange of ratification or deposit of ratification. Accession This applies to States that did not participate in the initial negotiations. Accession binds a state when the treaty so provides, when the negotiating parties have agreed that such consent may be expressed by accession, or when all the subsequent parties have agreed that consent is expressed by accession.
Step 4: Reservations A reservation is a unilateral statement, however phrased or named, made by a State when signing, ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to a treaty, whereby it purports to exclude or to modify the legal effect of certain provisions of the treaty in their application to the State.26 A reservation is different from an interpretative declaration. The latter refers merely to the expression or the interpretation of the State of the treaty, it does not in any way constitute derogation from the treaty. Article 19 Generally, States may make reservations. EXCEPT WHEN: (1) Reservation is prohibited by the treaty (2) The treaty provides for only specified reservations (3) When the reservation would be contrary to the object and purpose of the treaty. 27 Article 20 (1) A reservation expressly authorized by a treaty does not need subsequent acceptance by the other State-parties. (2) A reservation requires the acceptance of all the parties when it appears that the application of the treaty is an essential condition of the consent of each State-party to be bound by the treaty. (3) When a treaty is a constituent instrument of an international organization and unless it otherwise provides, a reservation requires the acceptance of the competent organ of that organization. (4) In cases not falling within the preceding paragraphs and unless the treaty otherwise provides:
Articles 9 and 10, VCLT Article 12, VCLT 24 Article 13, VCLT
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THE PHILIPPINES AND THE 1982 CONVENTION OF THE LAW OF THE SEA
The Philippines, upon its ratification of the Convention of the Law of the Sea, on the August 5, 1984, made a reservation. This is so because there is a conflict between Article I of the Philippine Constitution and the provision of the Conveneion on archipelagic waters. The reservations are as follows: 1. The signing of said Convention shall not in any manner impair or prejudice the sovereign rights of the Philippines. 2. The signing shall not impair the sovereign rights of the Philippines as a successor of the United States. 3. The signing shall not affect the rights and obligations of the Contracting Parties under the Mutual Defense Treaty28 and its related instruments, or other treaties to which the Philippines is a party. 4. The provisions on archipelagic passage do not nullify or impair the Philippines sovereignty as an archipelagic state. What this means is that it remains with authority to enact legislation over sea lanes, particularly when necessary to protect its sovereignty, interest, and security. 5. The concept of archipelagic waters is deemed similar to the concept of internal waters under the Philippine Constitution; more importantly, it removed straits connecting these waters with the economic zone or high sea from the rights of foreign vessels to transit passage for international navigation.
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(5) A reservation is deemed accepted by a State if it did not raise any objection to the reservation by the end of the period of 12 months after it was notified of the reservation or by the date on which it expressed its consent to be bound by the treaty, whichever is later. Legal effects of reservation: 1. A reservation established with regard to another party: a. modifies for the reserving state in its relations with that other party the provisions of the treaty b. modifies those provisions to the same extent for that other party in relation to the reserving State. 2. The reservation does not modify the provisions of the treaty for the other parties to the treaty inter se. 3. When a State objecting to a reservation does not oppose the treatys entry into force between itself and the reserving State, the provisions to which the reservation relates do not apply as between two States to the extent of the reservation. Withdrawal of reservations and of objections Withdrawal of a reservation may be made at any time, and the consent of the accepting State is not required. Withdrawal of an objection may be made at any time. As to effectivity: o The withdrawal of a reservation becomes operative in relation to another contracting State only when it receives notice thereof o The withdrawal of an objection becomes operative only when notice thereof has been received by the State which formulated the objection. Form and Procedure of Reservation: Reservations must be in writing, and formally confirmed by the reserving State The acceptance of the reservation DOES NOT itself require confirmation Withdrawal of a reservation or objection must be in writing
Step 5: Entry into Force A treaty enters into force on the date the parties agreed to. If there is no such agreement, then the treaty enters into force on the date of consent.29 A treaty may be provisionally applied when the treaty itself provides, or when the negotiating parties so agree.30
APPLICATION OF TREATIES
Treaties must be complied with in good faith, pursuant to the principle of pacta sunt servanda. When there is conflict between Municipal Law and International Law (further discussed in Chapter 4)
28 29
entered into between the Philippines and the U.S. on August 30, 1951 Art. 24, VCLT 30 Art. 25, VCLT
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passenger, and not when the injury is a result of the passengers own internal reaction to the normal expected operation of an aircraft. Moreover, the provision of the Montreal Agreement imposing absolute liability for injuries cannot deemed a waiver of the accident requirement under the Warsaw Convention.
INVALIDITY OF TREATIES
Grounds for invalidating a treaty are: 1. error of fact 2. fraud 3. corruption of the States representative 4. duress 5. the treaty is a violation of jus cogens Generally, a State may invoke the aforesaid grounds to invalidate a treaty. EXCEPT when the State expressly agrees that it remains effective, or when the state acquiesces.
INTERPRETATION OF TREATIES
Treaties are to be interpreted taking into consideration three elements: the ordinary meaning of the words, the purpose of the treaty, and the special meaning given to it by parties.33 When there are ambiguities, recourse may be had to supplementary sources. When a treaty is entered into in two or more languages, the general rule is that the treaties are equally authoritative in all languages, except when the parties agree to making a particular text prevail. The terms are presumed to be of the same meaning, but if a difference arises, then the meaning that will best reconcile both shall be adopted. Air France v. Saks Facts: Saks was a passenger of Air France who later on suffered permanent deafness in her left ear after landing in LA. She filed a case in a California State Court against Air France, alleging that her deafness was due to Air Frances negligence in maintaining their pressurization system. The contested term here is accident within the meaning of Article 17 of the Warsaw Convention. District Court ruled in favor of Air France, CA reversed, ruled in favor of Saks. Held: Air France is not liable. Liability under Article 17 arises only when the passengers injury is caused by an unexpected or unusual event or happening that is external to the
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Art. 30 par. 4 (b) as between a State party to both treaties and a State party to only one of the treaties, the treaty to which both States are parties governs their mutual rights and obligations.
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Issue: W/N the Court had jurisdiction (this is the primary issue, but the relevant part of rebus sic stantibus is discussed in the ratio) Held: The Court ruled that it had jurisdiction. Article 62 constituted customary international law. In order for a State to validly invoke rebus sic stantibus, the change must have been fundamental. The change should have resulted in a radical transformation of the extent of the obligations still to be performed. The change must have increased the burden of the obligations to be executed to the extent of rendering the performance of something essentially different from that originally undertaken. 38 Namibia Case (Namibia v. South Africa) Facts: South Africa is being mandated by the Security Council, by virtue of Resolution 276 (1970) to withdraw its administration over Namibia. It refused to do so, si Namibia sought advisory opinion from the Court requesting that the Court determine what the legal consequences are of South Africas continued stay. Held: The Court held that South Africa was under an obligation to withdraw from Namibia and that other States have an obligation not to recognize South Africas administration in Namibia. What is important to note here is that the Mandate by the Resolution is considered by the court to have the same binding effect as an international agreement. Therefore, the provisions of the VCLT on breach of treaty provisions can be considered as evidence of customary international law. Applying this same view to the Mandate, an outright repudiation of the Mandate and a violation of a provision essential to the Mandates purpose are means by which we can determine whether a State has violated its obligations under international law. Having committed these two outright breaches of the Mandate, the General Assemblys resolution is the exercise of its right to terminate the relationship in view of the outright violation of its international obligations.
TERMINATION OF TREATIES
Treaties are terminated by: Lapse of definite period provided for by the treaty Purpose for which it was established has already been achieved Material Breach o In order to constitute material breach, it must at least be an act in repudiation of a treaty, or a violation of a treaty provision essential to the accomplishment of the object or purpose of the treaty. 35 Impossibility of performance o In order to constitute impossibility of performance, the impossibility must result from the permanent disappearance or destruction of an object indispensable for the execution of the treaty.36 Rebus Sic Stantibus o Rebus sic stantibus is the principle of fundamental change in circumstances allowing States to suspend or terminate the application of a treaty o Basically, it can be said that the general rule is pacta sunt servanda and rebus sic statibus is one exception.37
Fisheries Jurisdiction Case (United Kingdom v. Iceland) Facts: UK and Iceland bring this case before the Court in order to settle their dispute regarding the extension of Icelands exclusive fisheries jurisdiction from 12 nautical miles to 50 nautical miles. Iceland previously entered into an agreement (through an Exchange of Notes) with UK NOT to extend its fisheries jurisdiction, but it nevertheless did, thereby violating its obligation to UK.
Art. 60. VCLT Art. 61, VCLT 37 I dont have a legal basis for this; I just learned and mapped this out from our previous discussions on treaty law.
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Par. 43
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Any one of the parties may submit it to the ICJ for a decision unless the parties agree to submit to arbitration # Any one of the parties may set in motion the procedure laid down in the Convention by submitting a request to the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations. The instruments containing the declaration of termination of the treaties should be in writing, and must be communicated to other parties.
AUTHORITY TO TERMINATE
Who can terminate treaties? The Convention does not provide. In the Philippines, however, the power to enter into treaties is shared between the President and the Senate. The law does not specify who has the authority to terminate, but as a corollary, those empowered to enter into them can be deemed the same ones empowered to terminate them.
SUCCESSION TO TREATIES
A new State succeeding another State previously a party to a treaty is not obliged to maintain in force that treaty or to become a party thereto. This is called the clean slate rule. Exceptions to the clean slate rule: 1. Boundary Regimes succession does not affect boundaries already set by a treaty, or obligations and rights established relating to the regime of a boundary. 2. Other territorial regimes succession does not affect use of any territory, or restrictions thereof, or rights established by a treaty for the benefit of any territory. The provisions on other territorial regimes do NOT apply to treaty obligations of the predecessor State providing for establishment of foreign military bases.40
TERMINATION OF TREATIES
Procedure: A party invoking any of the grounds for termination must notify all the parties If after the expiry of the period, which shall not be less than three months after the receipt of the notification, no State objects, then the termination may be carried out in accordance with Art. 67. If a State objects, resort to Art. 33 of the UN Charter is necessary. 39 o If no solution has been reached after 12 months following the date of the objection:
39 What Art. 33 requires is that States settle their dispute through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and other peaceful means.
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Under this theory, municipal law and international law are essentially the same. There are two primary divisions with regard to the monist theory43: 1. The ethical position on human rights (supported by Lauterpacht) The 'naturalist' strand sees the primary function of all law as concerned with the well-being of individuals, and advocates that international law is the best way of achieving this well-being. It is an approach characterized by deep suspicion of an international system based upon the sovereignty and absolute independence of states, and by faith in the capacity of the rules of international law to imbue the international order with a sense of moral purpose and justice founded upon respect for human rights and the welfare of individual.44 2. The formalistic logical approach (supported by Kelsen) This approach finds its basis on Kants philosophy. Under this approach, international law is superior to municipal law. Law is regarded as constituting an order which lays down patterns of behavior that ought to be followed, coupled with provision for sanctions which are employed once an illegal act or course of conduct has occurred. Since the same definition appertains within both the internal sphere and the international sphere, a logical unity is forged, and because states owe their legal relationship to one another to the rules of international law, such as the one positing equality, since states cannot be equal before the law without a rule to that effect, it follows that inter-national law is superior to or more basic than municipal law. Emerging third approach: the no common field approach (supported by Fitzmaurice and Rosseau) There arises a third approach, under which there is no common field between International Law and Municipal Law. It considers municipal law and domestic law as distinct laws, much like the French Rule and the English Rule are different systems of law, one not being superior over the other. They are both the legal element contained within the domestic and international systems respectively, and they exist within different juridical orders. 45
1. As to source
According to most dualists42 , municipal law prevails. Dualists are positivists who put strong emphasis on sovereignty. Why? Positivism stresses the overwhelming importance of the state and tends to regard international law as founded upon the consent of states. Monist Theory
43 44 41 42
Oppenheim's International Law, Vol. 1, 8th ed., 1958 Dixon and Mccirquidale, Cases and Materials in International Law
Shaw, 2003. International Law, 5th ed. Cited in Bernas, 45 Oppenheim's International Law, Vol. 1, 8th ed., 1958 46 Art. 27, VCLT
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The doctrine of incorporation The doctrine of incorporation simply provides that international law is automatically part of the law of the land without further need of legislation. The best known exponent of this doctrine is Blackstone49 who, in his Commentary said: the law of nations, wherever any question arises which is properly the object of its jurisdiction, is here adopted in its full extent by the common law, and it is held to be a part of the law of the land The doctrine of transformation The doctrine of transformation, on the other hand, provides that before international law becomes effective in the domestic sphere, it has to be transformed into municipal law by the use of the appropriate constitutional machinery, whether through an act of Congress or through an Act of Parliament. Which doctrine does the Philippines adhere to? The Philippines, in essence, adheres to both. It depends on the element of international law entering the domestic sphere. As regards treaties, the doctrine of transformation applies.50 This is because the validity of a treaty entered into requires the concurrence of the Senate.51 With regard to customary law and treaties that have become customary law, the Philippines adopts the incorporation theory. This is because the Constitution explicitly provides that the Philippines adopts generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land, thereby evincing our adherence to the incorporation theory. What is the legal implication? It means that our courts can apply international law to settle disputes, and such would have the same binding effect as would the Civil Code or the RPC. By incorporating customary law and treaties that have become customary law into the law of the land, international law attains the same value and effect as our municipal laws. To reiterate: In the Philippines, the doctrine of incorporation applies only to customary law and treaties that have become customary law; whereas the doctrine of transformation applies to treaties.52 Mejoff v. Director of Prisons (1951)
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Exchange of Greek and Turkish Population Case A state that enters into a valid international obligation is bound to make in its legislation such modifications as may be necessary to ensure the fulfillment of the obligations undertaken. Barcelona Traction Case Facts: Belgium wants to seek damages from Spain for the losses suffered by its citizens who are shareholders in the Barcelona Traction, Light and Power Company. Barcelona Traction was incorporated in Canada, but pursuant to Spains refusal to authorize foreign currency transfers, the Company went bankrupt and accordingly, its shareholders adversely affected. Spain contends that Belgium has no locus standi. Held: The Court ruled in favor of Spain, Belgium had no locus standi. In this case, international law had to recognize the corporate entity and its shareholders in light of the existing municipal law. Brazilian Loans Case (France v/ Brazil) Facts: This is a dispute between the Brazilian Federal Government and the French holders of various Brazilian Federal loans, with regard to the question whether the service of these loans should be effected based on gold franc or paper franc. Held: The Court ruled that even if this case involved municipal law rather than international law, the court has jurisdiction over the case. The Court was required to take into account the decisions of the municipal courts of a state and apply it.
Shaw, 2003. International Law, 5th ed. No legal basis for this, just noted from one of our previous discussions. However, it may be argued that precisely because treaties require an act of Congress before they become effective, this in itself constitutes our adherence to the doctrine of transformation. 51 Art. VII, Sec. 21. 1987 Philippine Constitution 52 Bernas
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covering 1943-1944. He is now being tried before the Military Commission for having failed to discharge his duties and prevent the brutal atrocities committed against civilians and prisoners of the Imperial Japanese Forces in violation of the laws and customs of war. He comes before the court, questioning the legality of E.O. 68 (establishing a National War Crimes Office prescribing rule and regulation governing the trial of accused war criminals) and the participation of American attorneys Melville S. Hussey and Robert Port in the prosecution proceedings. Issues: (1) (2)
Is E.O. 68 valid? Whether the participation of Hussey and Port is valid, even if they are not qualified to practice law in the Philippines, and whether it deprives the Philippines of sovereignty
YES, E.O. 68 is valid and constitutional. YES, their participation in the proceedings is valid, and NO, such does not diminish Philippine sovereignty.
Notwithstanding that the Philippines is not a signatory to the Hague Convention or the Geneva Conventions (not until 1947), these treaties, in addition international jurisprudence still evince generally accepted principles of international law. Such generally accepted principles, are by virtue of Article II, Sec. 3, part of our Constitution. Therefore, the President, in issuing EO 68, was merely acting pursuant to its role as Commander in Chief and clearly within his constitutional powers. It was the Presidents duty to try and punish individuals who have attempted to wage war. (2) The Military Commission is a special tribunal governed by special law and not the Rules of Court. Since the law creating it has been upheld as valid, so it follows that the said Commission has jurisdiction. Having the American lawyers in the proceedings does not in any way diminish the Philippines sovereignty, as the U.S. is an aggrieved party. If anything, its the U.S. that is relinquishing its sovereignty in allowing the Philippines to prosecute the case. Agustin v. Edu
Facts: Kuroda v. Jalandoni Facts: Shigenori Kuroda is a former Lieutenant-General of the Japanese Imperial Army and Commanding General of the Japanese Imperial Forces in The Philippines during a period President Marcos issued on December 2, 1974 a Letter of Instruction in accordance to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals and the UN which was ratified by the Philippine Government under PD 207. The Letter of Instruction 229, in the interest of safety in public highways and expressways direct owners of motorized vehicles to acquire an early warning device and present such upon registration of your vehicle. Pursuant to this LOI,
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53
Art. 13, Declaration of Rights and Duties adopted by the International Law Commission in 1949.
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involved in a dispute with its neighbours as to the precise demarcation of its frontiers, so long as there is a consistent band of territory which is undeniably controlled by the government of the alleged state. Government An agency through which the will of the state is formulated, expressed and realized. For purposes of international law, it is the national government that has legal personality and it is the national government that is internally responsible for the actions of other agencies and instrumentalities of the state. Sovereignty Independence from outside control The capacity to enter into relations with other states.59 Sovereignty, however, is dependent on recognition. Notably, the Philippines was able to sign the United Nations Charter notwithstanding that it was still not an independent state then. Self determination This is a broader concept than sovereignty. All peoples have a right to self-determination. By virtue of that right, they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.60 Levels of claims to self-determination: (1) Establishment of new states the claim by a group within an established state to break away and form a new entity. (2) Claims to be free from external coercion, or the claim to overthrow effective rulers and establish a new government
RECOGNITION OF STATES
Recognition means the act of acknowledging the capacity of an entity to exercise rights belonging to statehood. Can an entity claim to be a state before it is recognized by other states? There are two views on this: (1) The Declaratory Theory
59 60
Bernas Cruz 56 Lauterpacht, International Law, p. 489. 57 Article 1, Montevideo Convention of 1993 on Rights and Duties of States 58 Restatement (Third) on the Foreign Relations Law of the United States
Montevideo Convention of 1993 on Rights and Duties of States International Covenant on Civil an Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, also reaffirmed in the Declaration Granting Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (1960) and the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Reations and Cooperation among States (1970)
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preventing the recognizing state from passing upon their legality in its own courts.61 Does admission of a government to the United Nations mean recognition by all members? No. The recognition is only to the extent of the activities of the organization. When is recognition terminated? Recognition of a regime is terminated when another regime is recognized. For as long as a state continues to meet the qualifications of statehood, its status cannot be derecognized.
RECOGNITION OF GOVERNMENT
Recognition of government is the act of acknowledging the capacity of an entity to exercise powers of government of a state. The recognition of states is decided mainly on the basis of political considerations. The Tinoco Arbitration Great Britain v. Costa Rica (1923) Facts: In 1917, the Government of Costa Rica was overthrown by Frederico Tinoco. He assumed power in June 1917. He eventually retired and left the country. In 1922 the restored Costa Rican Government passed a law declaring all contacts entered into during the Tinoco government invalid. The Tinoco Government had granted a concession to the Central Costa Rica Petroleum Company and was indebted to the Royal Bank of Canada, both being British corporations. Great Britain is claiming on behalf of these coporation, though it never really recognized the Tinoco government. Held: The Tinoco Government was an actual sovereign government and was in effective control of Costa Rica, it was a valid government regardless of who recognized it and who did not. The non-recognition of other nations of a government claiming to be a national personality is usually appropriate evidence that it has not attained the independence entitling it under international law. But when recognition by such nations is determined by inquiry, their nonrecognition loses something of evidential weight on the issue, which those applying the rules are concerned. Consequences of Recognition of States and Governments: (1) Full diplomatic relations are established except where the government recognized is de facto. (2) The recognized government acquires the right to sue in the courts of the recognizing state. (3) The recognizing government has a right to the possession of the properties of its predecessor in the territory of the recognizing state. (4) All acts of the recognized state or government are validated retroactively,
SUCCESSION OF STATES
Various views are adopted in relation to succession of States. Some suggest that the new state succeeds to absolutely no rights or obligations of the predecessor state, but begins with a clean slate. Others claim that the successor state assumes all the rights and obligations of the predecessor state. Others hold that succession has varying effects on states rights and obligations.62 Rules on Succession of States 1. Succession to territory The succeeding state assumes all the capacities, rights and obligations of the predecessor state with respect to that territory 2. Succession to state property Where a part of State As territory becomes territory of State B, the property of A located in that territory passes to B. When State A is absorbed by State B, As property passes to B, wherever the property is located. Where part of State A becomes a separate state, property of the State A located in the territory of the separate state become the separated states. 3. Succession to public debts Where part of the territory of State A becomes territory of State B, local public debt and the rights and obligations of State A under contracts relating to that territory are transferred to State B. Where state A is absorbed by State B, the public debt, rights and obligations of State A pass to State B. Where part of State A becomes a separate state, local public debt, rights and obligations of the predecessor state under contracts relating to the territory of the new state pass to the new state. 4. Succession to contracts When part of State A becomes territory of State B, State As international agreements with respect to that territory ceases and the force of the treaty
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act as one entity. (b) Federal union combination of two or more sovereign states which upon merger cease to be states, resulting in the creation of a new state with full international personality to represent them in their external relations. (c) Confederation organization of states which retain their internal sovereignty and to some extent, their external sovereignty while delegating the collective body power to represent them as a whole for certain limited and specified purposes. (d) Personal union comes into being when two or more independent states are brought together under the rule of the same monarch. B. Dependent States Dependent states fall into two general categories, the protectorate and the suzerainty. One view is that the protectorate always retains a greater measure of control over its external affairs than the suzerainty. C. Neutralized States An independent state whether simple or composite may be neutralized through an agreement with other states by virtue of which the latter will guarantee the integrity and independence provided it refrains from taking any act that will involve it in war or other hostile activities except for defensive purposes. Example: Switzerland was neutralized in 1815 and has managed to maintain its status despite the many wars that has engulfed Europe since the Congress of Vienna.
CLASSIFICATION OF STATES
A. Independent States A state who is not subject from dictation from others with respect to the freedom to enter into external affairs is known as an independent state. It may either be: (1) Simple states A simple state is that which is placed under a single and centralized government exercising power over both its internal and external affairs. (2) Composite states A composite state consists of two or more states, each with its own separate government but bound under a central authority exercising to a greater or lesser degree control over their external relations. Examples: (a) Real union created when two or more states are merged under a unified authority so that they form a single international person through which they
63 Discussed in the Five Principles of Co-existence by India and China and the 1970 Declaration on Principles of International Law Friendly Relations and Cooperation Among States
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1. Objective Personality The entity is subject to a wide range of international rights and duties and will be entitled to be accepted as an international legal person by any other international person with which it has relations. Simply put, will operate erga omnes.68 Having an objective personality is harder to achieve because it may require the recognition of the entire international community or at least a substantial part of it. But how many States do you really need to vest an entity with objective international personality? 50.69 2. Qualified Personality Qualified personality is easier to achieve than objective personality, because as opposed to the erga omnes nature of objective personality, qualified personality is in personam. What this means is that an entity has international legal personality ONLY with regard to that entity that recognizes such personality. Reparations for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations ICJ Advisory Opinion, 1949 (Midterms 2010 Question) Facts: In 1948, Count Bernadotte, a Swedish national was murdered in Jerusalem (which at that time was under the control of Israel), while carrying out his duties as a UN Mediator in Palestine. The General Assembly then requested for the Courts advisory opinion on the matter in determining two questions: (1) Does the UN have a capacity to bring an international claim against the responsible government with a view to obtaining reparation due to respect of the damage caused (a) to the United Nations and (b) to the victim or persons entitled through him? (2) If 1(b) is in the affirmative, how is the action of the UN reconciled with the rights possessed by the State of which the victim is a national? Held:
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1. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
In principle, it is established that international organizations possess objective international legal personality. But how is such legal personality determined? It is determined by several factors including: (a) capacity to enter into relations with states and other organizations; (b) conclude treaties with them and (c) the status it has been given under international law.65 (d) Immunities66 - note that the basis for the immunities of international organizations is NOT sovereignty, but the need for the effective exercise of their functions.67 (Note that the discussion on the elements of legal capacity of States as discussed in Brownlie is similar to those of international organizations, Shaw only provides for the first three elements, Brownlie provides for the fourth.)
Shaw, International law. 5th ed. 241 (2003) Shaw, International Law. 5th ed. 241 (2003) 66 Brownlie
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erga omnes are obligations owed by States to the international community as a whole intended to protect and promote the basic values and common interests of all. This has been recognized by the ICJ in the Barcelona Tractions Case and further cited in the East Timor Case and the Israeli Wall Advisory Opinion. (erga omnes will be discussed in detail in State Responsibility) The Court held in the Reparations Case that 50 states have the power, in conformity with international law, to bring into being an entity possessing objective legal personality.
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Courts Opinion: The UN has international legal personality. In answering the question of whether or not a certain entity has international legal personality, the characteristics of that entity (as conferred to it by its Charter) must be considered. What rights was it intended to possess? What functions was it obliged to carry out? The Charter not only intended the UN to be a center for harmonizing actions of nations [art. 1 (4)], but has equipped it with organs and designated them with special tasks. It does not mean that the UN is a State, what it simply means is that it is a subject of international law capable of possessing international rights and duties and that it has capacity to maintain rights by bringing international claims. The UN is a supreme time of international organization intended to exercise and enjoy functions and rights, which can only be explained on the basis of the possession of a large measure of international personality and capacity to operate upon the international plane. As such, it cannot carry out its functions if it was devoid of international personality. Under international law, the UN must be deemed to have those powers which though not expressly provided for in its Charter, is a necessary implication as being essential to the performance of its duties.
ratification by the five permanent members of the Security Council, came into force on October 25, 1945. Membership o 2 kinds of members in the UN: (1) original or charter members Those states which having participated in the UN Conference on International Organization or having previously signed the Declaration by the United Nations, signed and ratified the Charter. Note: The Philippines, Lebanon and Syria were included as original members although they were not yet states at the time. (2) elective members o Other members may be admitted to the UN through the discretion of the General Assembly upon a favorable recommendation by the Security Council. o Qualifications to be eligible for elective membership: (1) It must be a state (2) It must be peace-loving (3) It must accept, be willing, and be able to carry out the obligations of the Charter. What is the U.N. Charter? o It consists of 111 articles besides the Preamble and concluding provisions. It also includes the Statute of the International Court of Justice, which is an integral part of it. o May be considered a treaty because it derives it binding force from the agreement of the parties to it. o It is intended to apply not only to the members of the Organization but also to non-Member states so far as may be necessary for the maintenance of peace and security. Purpose of the UN (Art. 1 of the UN Charter)71: o To maintain peace and security by taking collective measures to suppress acts of aggression, and by bringing about peaceful settlement of disputes. o To develop friendly relations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples o To achieve cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural and humanitarian character, and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. o To be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends. Seven Cardinal Principle (Art. 2, UN Charter)72 :
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Annotation from International Law by Jorge Coquiat & Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Annotation by Isagani Cruz
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o o o
What are the six principal organs of the United Nations? (1) General Assembly The most representative of the organs of the UN which consists of all the members of the Organization, each of which is entitled to send not more than 5 representatives73. It meets in regular annual session beginning on 3rd Tuesday of September or in a special session upon the call of a majority of its members or at the request of the Security Council. Voting method: Each member has one vote74 . Decisions on matters such as recommendations concerning international peace and security, election of members of the Councils, admission, suspension and expulsion of
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members, questions relating to the trusteeship system, and budgetary matters require two-thirds of those present and voting.75 (2) The Security Council The key organ of the UN in the maintenance of international peace and security. It consists of 5 permanent members (China, France, UK, Union of Soviet Socialists Republics, and the US or the Big Five), and 10 elective members76 . The Security Council may take steps for the pacific settlement of disputes or when necessary even preventive or enforcement action. The only limitation is that the dispute must be international, that is, it must not be an internal dissention77, unless parties themselves submit the matter to the UN. The Council approves trusteeship agreements in strategic areas. Voting method: o Substantive questions Each member shall have one vote, but distinction is to be made between the Big Five and the other members in the resolution of substantive questions. o Procedural matters affirmative vote of any of any nine or more members (3) The Economic and Social Council Composed of 54 members, which are elected by the General Assembly for 3-year terms and may be re-elected immediately. The Council meets in regular session in accordance with its rules and in special session at the request of a majority of its members. Voting method: Each member has one vote and decisions are reached by the majority of those present and voting. The Council, under the authority of the General Assembly is vested with responsibility for the promotion of international and social cooperation. (4) The Trusteeship Council The organ charged with the duty of assisting the Security Council and the general assembly in the administration of the international trusteeship system. Composition: o The members of the UN administering trust territories o The permanent members of the Security Council not administering trust territories
Art. 18(2), UN Charter The elective members are elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly. 77 i.e. civil war
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of specific territory.82 In NIAC, AP II applies. And in order for insurgents to be considered as being part of a non-international conflict, the material field of application must be met: First, the armed dissidents have armed command Second, there has to be control over a part of its territory as to enable them to carry out sustained and concerted military operations. What happens when these requisites are met? First, the insurgents will be recognized of belligerent status and second, they are seen as having treaty-making capacity.
4. INDIVIDUALS
Individuals have now come to be recognized as possessing rights and obligations under international law albeit these rights are limited. These international obligations of individuals may include the obligation to comply with regulations of armed conflict, as well as to not commit international crimes such as aggression, genocide, terrorism, and other crimes against humanity. (If they do commit these crimes, they are subjected to the jurisdiction of the ICC or the International Criminal Court, not the ICJ!)
2. INSURGENTS
Insurgents become subjects of international particularly in instances wherein a noninternational armed conflict exists (NIAC will be discussed in later chapters). Insurgents may enter into valid arrangements in certain instances but this would depend on the administration
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Art. 3(1), Statute of the ICJ Ibid. 80 Art. 13, Statute of the ICJ 81 Art. 18(1), Statute of the ICJ
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CHAPTER 7 TERRITORY
What is the definition of territory? It is the fixed portion of the surface of the earth inhabited by the people of the state.83 It must be permanent and indicated with precision because jurisdiction is determined on the basis of such. It must also be big enough to provide for the needs of the population, but must not be so extensive as to be difficult to administer or defend from external aggression. What are the components of territory? (1) The terrestrial domain Refers to land mass which may be integrated or dismembered or partly bounded by water, or consist of one whole island. (2) The maritime and fluvial domain Consists of bodies of water within the land mass and the waters adjacent to the coasts of the state up to a specified limit. Includes internal waters in the land-locked lakes, rivers, man-made canals within the land mass, and certain bays, gulfs, and straits, as well as external waters in the territorial sea. What is the territorial sea? The territorial sea may be described as the belt of waters adjacent to the coasts of the state, excluding the internal waters in bays and gulfs. The Philippine territorial sea is now limited to 12 miles from the low-water mark of our coasts84. Previously, the claim of the Philippines to its territorial sea was based on historic right or title which embraces all non-internal waters comprised within the limits set forth in the Treaty of Paris, and all applicable laws. The territorial sea may be defined regardless of its breadth, according either to the normal baseline method or the straight baseline method. o Normal baseline method the territorial sea is drawn from the low-watermark of the coast to the breadth claimed following its sinuosity and curvatures but excluding internal waters in bays and gulfs. o Straight baseline method straight lines are made to connect appropriate points on the coast without departing radically from its general direction.
What is the Archipelago Doctrine?85 The Philippine position on the definition of its internal waters is commonly known as the archipelago doctrine, which is articulated in Art. I, Sec. 1 of the 1987 Constitution86. This doctrine puts forth the view that all the 7,100 islands should be considered one integrated whole instead of being fragmented into separate units, each with its own territorial sea. Hence, in defining the internal waters of the archipelago, straight baselines should be drawn to connect appropriate points of the outermost islands without departing radically from the general direction of the coast. The waters inside the baseline shall be considered internal and thus, not subject to entry by foreign vessels without the consent of the local state.
(3) The aerial domain The airspace above the terrestrial domain and the maritime and fluvial domain of the state to an unlimited altitude but not including outer space. Every state has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory.87 How is territory acquired or lost? Acquired by: discovery and occupation, prescription, cession, subjugation, accretion. Lost by: abandonment or dereliction, cession, subjugation, prescription, erosion, revolution, natural causes.
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This doctrine has been embodied in the 1982 Convention of the Law of the Sea with the modificatioin that archipelagic sealanes shall be designated over the internal waters of the archipelago through which foreign vessels shall have the right of passage. Art. I, Sec. 1 states: The national territory comprises the Philippine archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced therein, and all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial, fluvial and aerial domains, including its territorial sea, the seabed, the subsoil, the insular shelves, and other submarine areas. The waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the Philippines.. Basis of this article: RA no. 3046 as amended by R.A no. 5446. Paris Convention on Aerial Navigation (1919), Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation (1944).
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Discovery and Occupation It is an original mode of acquisition by which a territory not belonging to any state or terra nullius is placed under the sovereignty of the discovering state (except, the open seas or outer space which is res communes and not susceptible to discover and occupation). Requisites: (1) Possession must be claimed on behalf of the state represented by the discoverer and may be effected through a formal proclamation and the symbolic act of raising the national flag in the territory. (2) Administration of the territory
Subjugation Territory is deemed acquired by subjugation when having been previously conquered or occupied in the course of war by the enemy, it is formally annexed to it at the end of the war. Conquest alone confers only inchoate rights, because the annexation is the act that completes the acquisition. Illustration: during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines, sovereignty in our country did not pass from US due to its inability to exercise it. Accretion Accomplished through both natural and gradual processes, as by the gradual and imperceptible deposit of soil on the coasts of the country through the action of water or by reclamation projects.
The Island of Palmas Case88 Title was disputed between the US and the Netherlands to an island situatied between the boundaries of the Philippine archipelago as ceded to the former Spain under the Treaty of Paris. The US primarily based its claim on the right of discovery of the island by Spain, and the Netherlands asserted that it had possessed and exercised sovereignty. The arbitrator held that discovery alone without any subsequent act cannot suffice to prove sovereignty.
Dereliction This occurs when the state exercising sovereignity over it physically withdraws from it with the intention of abandoning it altogether. Prescription Prescription requires long, continued and adverse possession to vest acquisitive title in the claimant. However, no rule on the period of possession necessary to transfer title have yet been established. Cession It is a method by which territory is transferred from one state to another by agreement between them, and is effected through transactions such as sale, donation, barter or exchange, and testamentary disposition. Example: purchase by the US of Alaska from Russia in 1867; gift by Austria of Lombardy to France in 1859; the exchange between Great Britain and Germany of the island of Helgoland in 1890. Transfer of title is effected upon the meeting of the minds of the parties, since cession is essentially consensual.
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