US bans right monitors from Abu Ghraib court martial

[JoFerret]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040519/wl_afp/us_iraq_abuse_martial&cid=1512&ncid=1480

WASHINGTON, (AFP) - Human rights monitors have complained they will not be allowed to observe in Baghdad the first court-martial of a US soldier accused of abusing inmates at Abu Ghraib prison.

"Barring human rights monitors from the court martial is a bad decision in its own right," said Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Middle East and North Africa division in a statement.


"It also sends a terrible signal to Iraqis and others deeply concerned about what transpired in Abu Ghraib."


The New York-based rights watchdog said other, Iraq (news - web sites)-based groups were also denied access.


"It's positive that US military authorities are allowing the media to attend tomorrow's hearing," said Whitson.

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[Jack Rabbit]

1. Human Rights Watch press release

From Human Rights Watch
Dateline Baghdad, Wednesday May 19

U.S./Iraq: Rights Monitors Barred From Court Martial

The United States occupation authorities have refused to allow Iraqi and international human rights groups to attend the court martial of a soldier allegedly involved in the torture and mistreatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison, Human Rights Watch said today. The court martial of Army Specialist Jeremy C. Sivits takes place in Baghdad today.

Read more.

[Gloria]

2. BBC report tonight on PBS finished with all the suspicions about the

U.S. military investigating itself (re court martials)....

Another bad PR move....

[Judi Lynn]

3. Obviously they have no shame, but they seem to have no honor, as well. n/t

[WillyT]

4. Exactly JL... No Shame, And definitely NO HONOR !!!

Unfuckingbelievable!!!

:mad:

[Tinoire]

5. Whatever happened to the "OPEN" trials for all the world to see

how harshly and thoroughly we were going to prosecute these crimes against humanity?

Sigh, don't answer.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Everyone's welcome except people whom we hope represent

our collective conscience, right?

They never fail to surprise us, no matter how much criminality they've illustrated to the world already.

[Disturbed]

7. Iraqis

Many there want death penalties for the abusers.
That's not gonna happen. In fact, many of the sentences
will be a year or two. The Iraqis that are calling the death
sentence are going to be mighty angry.

[saigon68]

8. The Iraqis are going to be overjoyed

After all, they will love democracy, openess and throw flowers in celebration, after several bad apples are sentenced to probation at Mother Mary's home for wayward girls.

[UpInArms]

9. kick

:kick: