Old news
This is what I was going to post last Tuesday, before I got involved in the flame war. That afternoon I went to my ophthalmologist and while I was in the waiting room I read a short article about crimes committed by American soldiers of the US army base in Souda, Crete.
The article mentions two crimes, the rape of a 76-year old woman and an assault to a local, both committed by drunk soldiers, who weren't brought to justice. In the first case the soldier was sent to a base in Germany and in the second case the evidence was inconclusive. I guess the victim's and eye-witnesses' testimonies weren't enough.
What is most frustrating isn't the US army's practice of hiding the culprits, but the Greek government's indifference, which they possibly call diplomacy. First of all , the police didn't act on time, so the suspects weren't arrested within the first 48 hours, something that would put them temporarily in prison. Second, they haven't asked the army to present the soldiers. US can ask, I'd say force is the right word, Greek citizens to be transferred in US soil to be judged based on suspicions, but the Greek government can't do the same even though the evidence is there .
And a final note. The article I read can be found on Metro magazine, issue April 2003. I first heard of these stories on the news and as far as I know there have been no further progress on both cases.
The article mentions two crimes, the rape of a 76-year old woman and an assault to a local, both committed by drunk soldiers, who weren't brought to justice. In the first case the soldier was sent to a base in Germany and in the second case the evidence was inconclusive. I guess the victim's and eye-witnesses' testimonies weren't enough.
What is most frustrating isn't the US army's practice of hiding the culprits, but the Greek government's indifference, which they possibly call diplomacy. First of all , the police didn't act on time, so the suspects weren't arrested within the first 48 hours, something that would put them temporarily in prison. Second, they haven't asked the army to present the soldiers. US can ask, I'd say force is the right word, Greek citizens to be transferred in US soil to be judged based on suspicions, but the Greek government can't do the same even though the evidence is there .
And a final note. The article I read can be found on Metro magazine, issue April 2003. I first heard of these stories on the news and as far as I know there have been no further progress on both cases.
posted by Maria | 10/17/2004 10:56:00 am
There you have it, the US even tried to win military immunity before the court of human rights. But even without this formal status they seem to be immune to local jurisdiction. Rape is certainly not a minor offence. I am shocked that they relocated the soldiers. Is that how the army still operates? Obviously the army never changes and rape will always be a feature of a soldiers life, but not only in war. I am very cynic, I know, but I have heard too many stories of rape and murder in wars to admire soldiers.
Cashima
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