Bon Voyage Général Noriega!
This just in, "U.S. judge OKs Noriega extradition to France".
Magistrate William Turnoff agreed with the government's case for extraditing Noriega to France and issued a "certificate of extradability."
His lawyers say they will continue to fight the extradition, but this ruling makes it all but certain. In France, the general faces (upon re-trial) up to 10 years in prison for money laundering.
One issue that was raised in this proceeding (and which is beyond my expertise) is with regard to POW status and extradition. According to the court, Gen. Noriega's POW status, granted to him after being captured by US forces, did not preclude his being tried in a US court, nor his extradition to a third country. It will be interesting to see how this ruling is used with regard to some of the enemy combatants we are now holding in Guantanamo (if they are given POW status). Would that mean that the practice of sending them to another country (rendition) for trial would be legal? I don't know, but it is interesting to think about. If anyone has any thoughts on this, I would appreciate some enlightenment.
That said, I think I speak for many when I say, "take care, general, don't forget to write!"
1 comments:
I agree Noriega is being sent to France just for one reason: if he returns to Panama, he could bribe government officials, leave jail and run for the presidency of Panama. We have seen that before in Latin America.
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