Rights group: Afghan trials unfair

I.Citation
Rights group: Afghan trials unfair
April 10th, 2008
http://www.thestate.com/372/story/371584.html

II.Summary

This article is talking about the views of the Human Rights Group on the fariness of the trials of transferred convicts from U.S. prisons to Guantanamo Bay and several other high-security prisons. They claim that the trials held on behalf of the convicts are in violation of fair trial standards, lacking several aspects that every fair trial should have. However several other individuals argue that the trials have in fact been completely fair in their execution, and have in no way violated any fair trial standards like the rights group accuses. Originally, the transferred detainees had no trial, and no sense of how long they were to be encarcerated. However due to past actions of the same Human Rights Group, the convicts have acquired the right to a trial, and if guilty, a clear sentence. Quite a few criminals have already been acquitted in reaction to the groups accusations.

III.Reactions

a) This article relates to the theme "interaction among and within major societies" due to the conflict, a type of interaction, between the Human Rights Group, and those supporting the trials for transferred criminals as fair.

b) Originally, the transferred detainees had no trial, and no sense of how long they were to be encarcerated. They were simply re-located, and put in jail for no specific amount of time. However due to past actions of the same Human Rights Group, the convicts have acquired the rights to a trial (whether or not it will be proven fair), and if guilty, a clear sentence.Now the Human Rights group is taking the issue a step further, and ensuring that the trials held for criminals are just in every way, shape, and form.

c) The point of view of the article in unclear. The author presents both sides of the argument with only a slight seeming lean towards the Human Rights groups side. All I can gather is that the person writing is a female, because her name is Alisa, and that she seems like an outsider because of her writing. Other than there is little else you can pull out about the authors identity.

d) In the article there seems to be more information about the Human Rights group's argument than the opposite side's. She provides several bullet pointed details of exactly how the trails are unfair, and provides us with some pro-activist's view points. All she seems to provide about the other side are some quotes, and a little insight. It seems as if the author is more in support of the Human Rights group.

e) A point a view missing is one from the actual criminals being tried. Although potentially dangerous, and maybe even slightly one-sided, it would help to get an opinion from a more trustworthy detainee in order to shine a little more light on the situation.

f) Personally I'm wanting to support the Human Rights group, but at the same time I don't want to give the detainees too much free reign, in fear that soon the courts will be unknowingly releasing guilty criminals onto the streets. However I do believe it is in every human being's right to be tried fairly. If the Human Rights group provided a little more evidence in support of their accusations, than I would definitely be backing them.