Tag Archives | Trial

Today, dedicate an hour of your life to watching Democracy Now’s coverage of Guatemala’s Genocide Trial

By salviad on April 19, 2013 in News 17

While every major news source is bombarding us with what’s transpiring in the United States today, Democracy Now dedicated their full program to the genocide trial taking place in Guatemala and why a judge suspended the trial of the former US-backed dictator.

The following are the two segments presented on Democracy Now. They are essential viewing and well worth the time.

Part 1: Genocide Trial of Former Dictator Ríos Montt Suspended After Intervention by Guatemalan President

Part 2: Exclusive: Allan Nairn Exposes Role of U.S. and New Guatemalan President in Indigenous Massacres… Read the rest

Pussy Riot’s Closing Statement Denounces ‘Totalitarian System’

By JacobSloan on August 11, 2012 in News 20

The eloquent and defiant closing statement from band member Yekaterina Samutsevich in the Pussy Riot trial explains the meaning (which Americans might not have understood) behind the punk band’s acts of art. Via chtodelat, translated:

I now have mixed feelings about this trial. On the one hand, we now expect a guilty verdict. Compared to the judicial machine, we are nobodies, and we have lost. On the other hand, we have won. Now the whole world sees that the criminal case against us has been fabricated. The system cannot conceal the repressive nature of this trial.

During the closing statement, the defendant is expected to repent or express regret for her deeds, or to enumerate attenuating circumstances. In my case, as in the case of my colleagues in the group, this is completely unnecessary.

The fact that Christ the Savior Cathedral had become a significant symbol in the political strategy of our powers that be was already clear to many thinking people when Vladimir Putin’s former [KGB] colleague Kirill Gundyaev took over as head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

… Read the rest

Birther Faces Court Martial For Refusing Deployment Orders

By Pelliciari on December 14, 2010 in News 72

ObamaLakin If Obama isn’t a US-born citizen is he fit to act as Commander in Cheif? That’s the question that brought Lt. Col. Terrence Lakin to trial for refusing to report for duty. Lakin, and other “birthers,” question whether President Obama is a US-born citizen or not. He pleaed guilty to one of two charges against him, stating he believed his orders for deployment were illegal because he still questions that Obama has a US birth certificate. MSNBC reports:

An Army doctor who disobeyed orders to deploy to Afghanistan because he questions President Barack Obama’s citizenship pleaded guilty Tuesday to one of two charges against him.

Lt. Col. Terrence Lakin of Greeley, Colo., pleaded guilty in a military court to a charge that included not meeting with a superior when ordered to do so and not reporting to duty at Fort Campbell.

Lakin faces up to 18 months in prison and dismissal from the Army.

… Read the rest