Latvian student freed from prison in Iraq says he will sue U.S.

[plurality]

http://www.leta.lv/eng/news.asp?NewsID=2003120316263103CC97CA8E442785B5

RIGA, Dec 3 (LETA) - Latvian student Maris Bergholds, who has been recently freed from a prison in Iraq, has decided to sue the United States for violations of human rights.

Bergholds is looking for ways and lawyers to decide which institution he wants to sue, he told LETA. The U.S. government or army could be sued - depending on which of the two is responsible for selecting soldiers who are serving in Iraq, he said.

The student is dissatisfied with the way he was treated by U.S. soldiers while held prisoner in Iraq.

Mass media reported last month that a student from Latvia was being held prisoner in Iraq. He was home in a few weeks thanks to Latvian diplomats and military's active measures.

Bergholds was arrested in Iraq as a "possible foreign fighter," he explained reporters upon returning to Riga at end-November. He had arrived in Iraq from Turkey. He had intended to visit Kurdistan and find out whether he could cross from Iraq into Jordan. After Bergholds turned for help to Kurd policemen he was robbed and "sold" to the coalition forces for USD 100.

[pinto]

1. I wish him luck

the occupation has gotten legal shields approved for any lawsuits against American, coalition personnel, including subcontractors, for anything, including human rights charges. He'll probably try the Hague, I guess. Least that will get some publicity and maybe a pyrrhic
victory, for what that's worth.

[tom_paine]

2. That would be like suing Hitler

Well, a little "kinder and gentler" but with essentially the same response ("Fuck, you, you inferior furriner!") and the same chance of victory.

Take it to the Hague. They try war criminals there.

[Dogmudgeon]

3. No can do

If the Hague even tries to put an American on trial, the President is empowered, nay, required to attack Holland.

--bkl

[pinto]

4. Yeah! they've got WMD

weapons of mass democracy

[loudnclear]

5. I wonder how many others were "sold" for US dollars?

Wonder how many of these are in GITMO? Wonder how many make up the numbers of "terrorists" in custody to show how much progress we are making?

[DUreader]

6. at least 140 in gitmo, plus those already released

[pinto]

7. chilling term isn't it?

I re-read the account and my previous (pessimistic) post. We need to encourage any and all to attempt legal recourse, however slight the possibility of resolution. See the recent Afar case post about a similar situation. The US Constitution recognizes that rights are lost individually and incrementally, hence it's protection of the individual vis-a-vis the state.

I've forwarded both stories to Amnesty International for their data base.....