Saturday, October 28, 2006
Saturday, and cold too..
Serbia Votes Today on Constitution
http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_4566911
There was an audio report on NPR about this too.
Man Recently Arrested For War Crimes Had Asylum in U.K.
http://www.washtimes.com/upi/20061028-085216-2924r.htm
I am in a bit of a quandry here, I don't like trials in absentia, a person really can't manage an effective defense in those circumstaces. I dont' like war criminals, I think they should be punished, but there is the question of a FAIR trial, and trial in absentia doesnt' seem fair to me. Even for infamous crimes one cannot automatically assume guilt, so I can see how Mr. Spanovic got assylum. The thing that angers me about the assylum issue is that with the United States at least, it can be very difficult indeed to make a case for assylum! So why is it so easy for someone accused and tried in any circumstance have an easier time getting assylum than say a victim of war crimes, or someone who fears being a victim? Has nothing been learned from the era before WWII?
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Yesterday's talk by Dr. Menard was really excellent. The talk was on the U.N. and on torture and the Geneva Conventions. it was a very lengthy talk, with many points raised about what is and is not allowed under Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions. He illustrated his points with numerous examples. There was film taken of the talk, and it will be available on DVD to watch in the Library, Raymond Hall. He was briefly introduced by Joan Weber, and Dr. Jeske as well as by Mr. Tate from Bellvue Community College.
There is an organization called the United Nations Association which is calling for papers on the issue of torture, there is going to be a Colloquim on this subject in May of next year at Bellvue Community College and there should be information on this matter available in the library at YVCC, at very least in the film and probably through the Political Science and English department heads for those interested in working on such a paper.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_4566911
There was an audio report on NPR about this too.
Man Recently Arrested For War Crimes Had Asylum in U.K.
http://www.washtimes.com/upi/20061028-085216-2924r.htm
I am in a bit of a quandry here, I don't like trials in absentia, a person really can't manage an effective defense in those circumstaces. I dont' like war criminals, I think they should be punished, but there is the question of a FAIR trial, and trial in absentia doesnt' seem fair to me. Even for infamous crimes one cannot automatically assume guilt, so I can see how Mr. Spanovic got assylum. The thing that angers me about the assylum issue is that with the United States at least, it can be very difficult indeed to make a case for assylum! So why is it so easy for someone accused and tried in any circumstance have an easier time getting assylum than say a victim of war crimes, or someone who fears being a victim? Has nothing been learned from the era before WWII?
******************************************************************************************************************************************
Yesterday's talk by Dr. Menard was really excellent. The talk was on the U.N. and on torture and the Geneva Conventions. it was a very lengthy talk, with many points raised about what is and is not allowed under Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions. He illustrated his points with numerous examples. There was film taken of the talk, and it will be available on DVD to watch in the Library, Raymond Hall. He was briefly introduced by Joan Weber, and Dr. Jeske as well as by Mr. Tate from Bellvue Community College.
There is an organization called the United Nations Association which is calling for papers on the issue of torture, there is going to be a Colloquim on this subject in May of next year at Bellvue Community College and there should be information on this matter available in the library at YVCC, at very least in the film and probably through the Political Science and English department heads for those interested in working on such a paper.
# posted by Katja R. @ 7:44 AM 
