We have previously discussed the horrific gang rape of a 23-year-old student. The trial is now beginning. However, the court has ordered that it be conducted behind closed doors despite the fact that the victim is dead. In addition, the judge has imposed a gag order on the lawyers. It is a poor decision by the judge and denies the public’s interest to view such trials. While India may not have the same right to public proceedings that we have in the United States, the denial of public access to the trial in such an important case is a terrible judgment on the part of the Court. This case has galvanized public opinion and forced Indian officials to deal with a long-ignored problem of rape in the country. Those officials would prefer for the trial to be conducted in secret.
The public will not hear the details of the rape by the five men, their testimony, or evidence of how officials responded to the rape. Of all of the cases to be heard in India, this is the case that demands public scrutiny. Yet, Judge Yogesh Khanna turned down requests by journalists for a simple briefing on the proceedings in a harsh blackout on information.
The judge will also rule on the fate of one defendant who claims that he was 17 at the time of the crime. If treated as a juvenile, he would only be subject to three years in a reform facility if convicted as a juvenile for the brutal rape and torture of the woman and beating of her male friend.
The decision of the judge to bar the public and media as well as gag the lawyers should trigger a review of how these cases are handled in India.
Source: Daily Mail
Andersonville Prison in Georgia was a Confederate Prison for Union soldiers. It housed roughly 45,000 men over its span of time and of those approximately 13,000 died of starvation or other preventable causes.
There are photos showing the survivors when the place was liberated. It is a blight on America. It does not detract from heros who served. Quantico is a blight on America and it shames all Americans. We should not torture our own soldiers, even if they are accused of a crime.
I bet he would not have tortured a fellow American soldier. Which is the point. I am making fun of Occupy Wall Streeters for barking up small trees when there is an issue here that needs public discourse and public demand for justice. Where was Andersonville prison in the Civil War? They starved inmates to death. Some were heroes. There were a lot of Southern Confederate heroes and no one blames them for what happened at Andersonville. It is neither here not there that Virginia has produced heroes when your government is breaching human rights- whether at Andersonville or at Quantico.
Mespo,
That s one brave Virginian, but a sad story. He is missed.
Barkin’:
“If you people in Virginia had an ounce of guts and conscience, you would be out there picketing the torture chambers at Quantico Virginia.”
***********************
In 1973, Donald Charles May, Sr. of Richmond was awarded the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, and the Navy Cross for distinguished service in the Vietnam War as a tank commander for “extraordinary heroism in combat.” He returned to Richmond and married his wife Brenda, who also served in the Marines. Their son, Donald Charles May, Jr, graduated from Meadowbrook High School in 1990. Donald, Sr. died tragically in a boating accident shortly thereafter.
Donald, Jr. followed in his parents’ footsteps by enlisting in the Marines in part because he thought he owed a debt of conscience to his country and because he wanted to honor his mom and dad. He served a tour in Iraq guarding prisoners as a military policemen in 1991. Following his tour, he re-enlisted and trained as a tank commander being assigned to the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center.
On March 25, 2003, while serving on convoy duty the tank he commanded plunged off a bridge and into the Euphrates River landing upside down and trapping the crew of three. His remains were finally recovered on March 28, 2003.
Donald Charles May, Jr., son of a hero and a hero himself, was 31 years old. He left a wife and two small children.
He joins 232 other Virginians who have died in service to their country since 2000. They join 53,575 Virginia men and women listed in the Virginia Military Dead Database and countless others of nameless Virginians whose intrepid remains are scattered all around the world from Yorktown to Cerro Gordo to Gettysburg to Belleau Wood to Normandy to Taejon to Khe Sanh, and on and on.
That’s “guts and conscience” enough for the ages.
If you people in Virginia had an ounce of guts and conscience, you would be out there picketing the torture chambers at Quantico Virginia. DC is not that far. Forget the Occupy Wallstreet crap and go stand up for human rights. Bark loud so we can hear you.
Come to May Day on the first of May in Washington DC for our call upon our government to shut down the War or we will shut down the government.
I do not believe in televised trials except for exceptional cases. In a bench trial, meaning no jury, where the judge or judges plural decide guilt or innocence, a televised trial is not onerous to the result. The article does not inform us as to whether anyone gets a jury trial in India or whether these guys just waived a jury.
In the Bradley Manning case we need a televised trial. The world needs to see these people doing their thing. Then we need a separate televised trial for the crimes of torturing Bradley Manning while he was awaiting trial. That one can be held in Europe by the International Criminal Court.
“…..The details of the horrific rape are well know as a result the only people being protected will be the government.”
Don’t forget the centuries old public opiníon, that women are of no consequence and fair game for any stray dick. The tales would raise your hair—-or make it fall out.
It is like here in our justice system, accountability is not admitted.
I’m not sure I agree with you on closed trials. I have seen several examples of televised trials that have led to no good but I have never said (or heard anyone else say) “Thanks Gawd they made that trial a public spectacle!”
Maybe I am wrong & someone here can point it out to me. I understand that secret trials are evil but there is a big difference between secret and the sorts of carnivals the US has turned some trials into.
WordPress emailed me and said that I need to change my name to PassinGasDog. I said I am just a farter and not an astardBay or an itchinBay.
I wann know why we named the State of Indiana after India. Can they do a name change at this juncture?
In The Judges Trial at Nuremburg after WWII we prosecuted Nazi judges for secret trials. As an “Exceptionalist” I call on India to come clean or we go mean. We could put a hold on Indians immigrating into our country. We should boycott products made there. The Judge needs to cover his head and his face in shame.
The Brits oought to be ashamed. This was their proud colony. They shaped what is now Indian Law.
What is the government doing to the driver of the bus? Why did he not pull over and stop the rape? Why did he not pull up to a police station? Who else was on the bus? Did he stop and pick up more rapists as the rape was going on?
Hop on the bus, Gus. Throw away the key, Lee.
Those who hump without consent are bad humans and bad dogs.
East of Corfu the Ten Commandments dont apply.
Lets have cameras at the Bradley Manning trial! Get USA Today behind this. India is close to being Pirate Territory. This incident and this trial will be a factor we can take into consideration when we fly over and decide to flush or not.
I predict that if the government manages to let these guys get away with this, there will be many people whose safety on public transportation in India cannot be guaranteed, and some of those will be government employees.
A little sunshine never hurt..unless you are hiding something.
I read that the youngest defendant was also the one with the iron bar…the one who killed her.
So much for transparency. And if these defendants are acquited or given light sentences then coupled with this shutout of the public it is only going to make it look worse for the gov’t.
Funny that The Davos Thingy has much of the same characteristics, probably because both events involve rape.
Ah democracy for some, Ouch democracy for others.
I am sure secrecy suits the government just fine. That way they can do and say what they want to excuse the behavior of the police and other members of the government to this rape and others that have been committed. They can also work their magic to try and excuse the rapists. There can be no other reason for wanting secrecy. The details of the horrific rape are well know as a result the only people being protected will be the government.