Spain's Judge Garzon asks for work transfer to The Hague

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Spain's Judge Garzon asks for work transfer to The Hague
May 11, 2010, 14:10 GMT

Madrid- Spain's Judge Baltasar Garzon, who is facing a trial in Spain over his attempt to investigate the crimes of 1939-75 dictator Francisco Franco, has asked to be transferred to work temporarily at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, National Court sources said Tuesday.

The chief prosecutor in The Hague had invited Garzon to work at the court as an 'external consultant' for seven months, the sources said. The judges' organ CGPJ was due to study the request.

National Court magistrate Garzon, 54, is known worldwide for his investigations into human rights violations abroad, including his failed attempt to extradite former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and his indictment of Osama bin Laden. But when Garzon tried to probe the crimes of Franco, whom he accuses of the deaths of more than 100,000 opponents during the 1936- 39 civil war and the ensuing dictatorship, he faced opposition from some legal experts and conservative politicians.

Two far-right associations sued Garzon, and Supreme Court judge Luciano Varela started preparing a trial of him on charges of overstepping his authority and of ignoring an amnesty granted to Franco's collaborators in 1977.



Read more: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1554865.php/Spain-s-Judge-Garzon-asks-for-work-transfer-to-The-Hague

[Solly Mack]

1. k/r

[WhiteTara]

2. again, thanks Judi Lynn

you bring important information with your posts. I wonder if the "external consulting" will be to charge * and co.
:hi:

[Jefferson23]

3. "an external consultant." Boy, would I love to be a fly on the wall

listening to Garzon's input. I hope he gets the transfer.


War criminals, far and wide, listen up!

And how is Cheney doing this morning I wonder.

[seafan]

4. Is the BFEE gunning to remove this judge from investigating them? Fits like a glove.

Interesting that Garzon had also just opened an investigation into the crimes of Jay Bybee, John Yoo and other members of the Bush Crime Family.

Removing a judge from a case is not unusual for the BFEE. And the convenient excuse of "overstepping his authority" in investigating the 1939-1975 crimes of dictator Francisco Franco fits this picture.



From May 11. 2010:

.....

Two far-right associations sued Garzon, and Supreme Court judge Luciano Varela started preparing a trial of him on charges of overstepping his authority and of ignoring an amnesty granted to Franco's collaborators in 1977.

Garzon faced the possibility of being suspended from his job and of his career coming to an end.

Garzon won support from international lawyers especially in Latin America, who saw him as being subjected to a witch-hunt by people wanting to cover up Franco's crimes.

Spain’s Judge Garzón faces suspension —after opening Bush-era war crimes probe

28 February 2010

Authorities in Spain have launched proceedings to suspend the notorious investigating magistrate Baltasar Garzón. The ostensible reason for the move is his investigation into the fate of 114,000 people who disappeared during the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath. The public prosecutor’s office says Garzón had no authority to conduct the investigation because of a 1977 amnesty law. But Garzón says the disappearances must be considered crimes against humanity, and therefore not covered by any amnesty.

Baltasar Garzón gained an international reputation through his efforts to have former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet extradited to Spain. If Spain’s best known judge is found guilty of exceeding his authority, he could be removed from office for 20 years. (Radio Netherlands, Feb. 10)

The move comes just as Garzón opened a formal criminal investigation of former White House attorneys John Yoo and Jay Bybee and other Bush administration officials for their role in authorizing torture at the Guantánamo Bay detention center. Garzón’s inquiry will be the first formal examination of alleged criminal activity that could lead to a number of US officials being charged with violations of the Geneva Conventions and the Convention Against Torture, both of which have been signed by the United States and ratified by the US Senate.

Very interesting, indeed.