No one would argue against criminals being duly prosecuted - according to law and a justice system which is fair and just.
It looks like the military in America haven't yet learnt that an accused is entitled to face and challenge his accusers - for this report in the NY Times that lawyers for a Guantanamo detainee have been ordered by a military judge not to disclose to their client, or anyone else for that matter, the identity of the witness to be called by the prosecution against their client, is alarming.
This is "justice" gone absolutely haywire! What would the Americans say if the same circumstances existed in say a South American or Middle Eastern country?
"Defense lawyers preparing for the war crimes trial of a 21-year-old Guantánamo detainee have been ordered by a military judge not to tell their client — or anyone else — the identity of witnesses against him, newly released documents show.
The case of the detainee, Omar Ahmed Khadr, is being closely watched because it may be the first Guantánamo prosecution to go to trial, perhaps as soon as May.
Defense lawyers say military prosecutors have sought similar orders to keep the names of witnesses secret in other military commission cases, which have been a centerpiece of the Bush administration’s policies for detainees at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
Some legal experts and defense lawyers said the judge’s order, issued on Oct. 15 without public disclosure, underscored the gap between military commission procedures and traditional American rules that the accused has a right to a public trial and to confront the witnesses against him.
Defense lawyers say the order would hamper their ability to build an adequate defense because they cannot ask their client or anyone else about prosecution witnesses, making it difficult to test the veracity of testimony."
It looks like the military in America haven't yet learnt that an accused is entitled to face and challenge his accusers - for this report in the NY Times that lawyers for a Guantanamo detainee have been ordered by a military judge not to disclose to their client, or anyone else for that matter, the identity of the witness to be called by the prosecution against their client, is alarming.
This is "justice" gone absolutely haywire! What would the Americans say if the same circumstances existed in say a South American or Middle Eastern country?
"Defense lawyers preparing for the war crimes trial of a 21-year-old Guantánamo detainee have been ordered by a military judge not to tell their client — or anyone else — the identity of witnesses against him, newly released documents show.
The case of the detainee, Omar Ahmed Khadr, is being closely watched because it may be the first Guantánamo prosecution to go to trial, perhaps as soon as May.
Defense lawyers say military prosecutors have sought similar orders to keep the names of witnesses secret in other military commission cases, which have been a centerpiece of the Bush administration’s policies for detainees at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
Some legal experts and defense lawyers said the judge’s order, issued on Oct. 15 without public disclosure, underscored the gap between military commission procedures and traditional American rules that the accused has a right to a public trial and to confront the witnesses against him.
Defense lawyers say the order would hamper their ability to build an adequate defense because they cannot ask their client or anyone else about prosecution witnesses, making it difficult to test the veracity of testimony."
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