Kangaroo court claim on trials of Cuba detainees

Kangaroo court claim on trials of Cuba detainees

VICKY COLLINS January 01 2004




Copyright © 2003 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited. All Rights Reserved

MILITARY trials of terrorist suspects held in Guantanamo Bay could start soon after the Bush administration appointed a retired army major general to oversee the process.

Donald Rumsfeld, the defence secretary, announced that two former cabinet members and two sitting judges would hear appeals of convictions or sentences.

Human rights groups, however, disputed US claims that the appeal process would be independent and claimed the secrecy of the process would amount to a "kangaroo court".

The appointments are the last steps envisioned before the Pentagon brings criminal charges against detainees in Cuba. A Defence Department source said all indications suggested the trials would happen early in the new year. (snip)

John Altenburg, who retired in 2002 after 28 years as a US army lawyer, will appoint members of the commissions that will hear cases and approve charges and plea agreements.

This had been assigned to Paul Wolfowitz, the deputy defence secretary, but a full-time supervisor was now needed, a senior official said.
(snip/...)

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/7229.html