Very interesting news. Baltasar Garzon, the Spanish judge

[EFerrari]

who is now being more or less persecuted in Spain for opening a case against crimes committed during the Franco era, is using this time of his suspension to go work in Colombia with the OAS on crimes committed during the civil war.

I heard this on Amy's show today. The transcript isn't up yet but it's near the end of his interview.

[Judi Lynn]

1. He's completely courageous, doing things the entire judicial system should have been doing long ago.

The right-wing dispises him. He sees their criminality and points it out.

Great to hear he's still finding things he likes to do.

http://www.elpais.com.nyud.net:8090/recorte/20061203elpepuint_18/XLCO/Ies/Baltasar_Garzon_capitanea_primer_intento_procesarle.jpg

Poor, poor Pinochet. That mean Mr. Garzon picked on this fine
mass-murdering, torturing, thieving, lying, cheating right-wing
trash.

[EFerrari]

2. He seems to be here to pick up a human rights advocacy prize

From Puffin. He's much younger than I thought he was and seems unflappable.



"Baltasar Garzon, Spanish judge who has indicted Augusto Pinochet, Osama bin Laden, Bush administration officials and many others on human rights grounds. He will receive the first
Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives/Puffin Award for Human Rights Activism on May 14 at a ceremony in New York City."

[Judi Lynn]

4. Excellent photo of two fine people! They look like friends already! n/t

[Judi Lynn]

3. Some people seem to believe Garzon always has a chimp on his shoulder.

http://blogs.periodistadigital.com.nyud.net:8090/imgs/20090314/garzon-mono.jpg

http://estaticos03.cache.el-mundo.net.nyud.net:8090/elmundo/imagenes/2009/06/22/1245662774_0.jpg

[Bacchus39]

5. he was invited by Santos

http://www.elespectador.com/opinion/editorial/articulo-248437-colombia-y-baltasar-garzon

[Judi Lynn]

6. Spanish 'super-judge' cleared to consult in Colombia .

Spanish 'super-judge' cleared to consult in Colombia
Wednesday, 18 May 2011 12:35
Adriaan Alsema

High-profile Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon has been authorized to consult the Colombian government, despite there being three cases open against him in his home nation.

Garzon will work with the Organization of American States (OAS) in a mission dedicated to the process of demobilization in Colombia under the 2005 Justice and Peace Law, including the reintegration of former paramilitary members and the reparations to victims.

The General Council of the Judiciary in Spain voted three to two in favor of permitting Garzon to work for one year in the mission, after receiving favorable reports from the Spanish Supreme Court and the OAS' assertion that he will "not have any immunity that affects the legal situation in Spain."

Garzon, known variously as a "crusading judge" or "superjuez" (super-judge), achieved fame through several cases pursuing notorious public figures such as Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. The opening of a case in the same vein, targeting Spain's deceased right-wing leader General Franco's regime, is what eventually got him suspended from the Spanish courts in May 2010 because there had been an amnesty over Franco's regime.

More:
http://www.colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/16357-spanish-super-judge-cleared-to-consult-in-colombia.html