Spain's Judges Cross Borders in Rights Cases

[Echo In Light]

Spain's Judges Cross Borders in Rights Cases
High-Ranking US Officials Among Targets of Inquiries
by Craig Whitlock

MADRID -- Spanish judges are boldly declaring their authority to prosecute high-ranking government officials in the United States, China and Israel, among other places, delighting human rights activists but enraging officials in the countries they target and triggering a political backlash in a nation uncomfortable acting as the world's conscience.

Judges at Spain's National Court, acting on complaints filed by human rights groups, are pursuing 16 international investigations into suspected cases of torture, genocide and crimes against humanity, according to prosecutors. Among them are two probes of Bush administration officials for allegedly approving the use of torture on terrorism suspects, including prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The judges have opened the cases by invoking a legal principle known as universal jurisdiction, which under Spanish law gives them the right to investigate serious human rights crimes anywhere in the world, even if there is no Spanish connection.

International-law advocates have cheered the developments and called the judges heroes for daring to hold the world's superpowers accountable. But the proliferation of investigations has also prompted a backlash in Spain, where legislators and even some law enforcement officials have criticized the powerful judges for overreaching, as well as souring diplomatic relations with allies.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/05/24-0

[snappyturtle]

1. Kudos to the Spanish judges! K&R nt

[Canuckistanian]

2. Great!

Say goodbye to the vacation in Spain, Bushco members!

These guys are serious. Look what they did to Pinochet.

[cali]

3. I'm just amused by the embrace of the hypocrisy inherent in this situation.

Not that I'm against what Garzon is doing- and it really is all about Garzon- but the juxtaposition of his eagerness to pursue the crimes of other nations with his cowardice re investigating Franco era torture and mass murder and his
attempts to repress Basques, is rather glaring.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2211769.stm

[Mudoria]

5. Have to agree with you on that. It's basically grandstanding

for the publicity. None of these people will have stand in front of a Spanish court. Telling that he ignores public matters in his own country. Of course he may not like the thought of a ETA bomb in his car either.

[Wednesdays]

4. K&R

:kick:

[femrap]

6. k and r

We need more Judges like this.