maybe its because....
hdkwnf | 16.11.2003 17:37
........like me, some people have doubts.
I examined the high-quality footage on the "black bag" etc.
It did not seem as certain that Simon was framed as the writer was asserting.
Amongst other things, his original bag seemed to be bi-colour, part blue part black.
I tried hard to believe, but what I saw, on really close inspection, left me with the conclusion that only a fair and careful trial could determine whether he was or was not carrying molotov cocktails and other weapons, etc.
The video alone, if viewed with a completely open mind, certainly is not conclusive that he was framed, though of course, if that is what you are determined to see in it, you can.
I examined the high-quality footage on the "black bag" etc.
It did not seem as certain that Simon was framed as the writer was asserting.
Amongst other things, his original bag seemed to be bi-colour, part blue part black.
I tried hard to believe, but what I saw, on really close inspection, left me with the conclusion that only a fair and careful trial could determine whether he was or was not carrying molotov cocktails and other weapons, etc.
The video alone, if viewed with a completely open mind, certainly is not conclusive that he was framed, though of course, if that is what you are determined to see in it, you can.
hdkwnf
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It's not about guilt or innocence
16.11.2003 18:31
Pok
2 questions
16.11.2003 19:08
First - is the video evidence about a rucksack with weapons planted on Simon chapman credible? and second - does it matter?
About the first question: Yes, any pictures and videos can be faked - you will only ever know wether a picture tells the truth if you've taken it yourself. But you can assess the probability of what you see. Of course, Simon's friends and family won't believe that he was running around in Thessaloniki carrying weapons. You might think that they are biased and their judgement flawed. In that case I would like to point to the EU Greens who demand the immediate release of the Thessaloniki 7 here:
While they state that they are completely opposed to militant protest, they also express concerns about civil liberties. They think that anybody has a right to fair trial. The Tessaloniki 7 are not convicted, they are held in prison under suspicion, although the legal framework generally demands that people have to be seen as innocent until a court has found them guilty. So - on which grounds are they held in prison?
I would also like to point to Liberal MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford, who calls for release of Hunger Strike Briton, stating the following:
“I utterly deplore people perpetrating violence in the name of politcal protest, but the right to demonstrate peacefully is a vital civil liberty that should be upheld even by those who disagree with the particular cause. If Simon has been a victim of police scapegoating and malpractice, this is a very serious situation which needs to be investigated."
Now - do you think that a liberal MEP would go public in support of Simon if she wasn't convinced that the evidence in his favour is at least worth looking at?
And the second question: Assume someone gets caught with molotov cocktails during a demo. Is this a bad enough crime to deserve an indirect death penalty? I mean, people who send thousands to war and death don't even have to stand trial!
l-tour