Grenada PM refutes Amnesty Int'l report

PM Keith Mitchell

Saturday, October 25, 2003

ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada: Mr Keith Mitchell, the prime minister of Grenada, has criticized a recent report by Amnesty International, which concludes that international standards were violated in the trial of 17 people convicted of killings in Grenada's 1983 coup. 

According to London's Guardian newspaper, in its 32-page report, Amnesty urged Granada's government to carry out an independent judicial review of the convictions. The report was released Thursday, two days before the 20th anniversary of a U.S. invasion on Oct. 25, 1983, that was prompted by the coup. 

"They were not thorough in their assessment,'' Prime Minister Keith Mitchell said Thursday. ``It's a sloppy piece of work. I do not feel that they spoke to enough people.'' 

The report listed allegations including irregularities in jury selection, a denial of a competent and independent tribunal, lack of legal representation and allowing questionable evidence. It also questioned whether some defendants' confessions may have been obtained using torture. 

The government has insisted the 17 were justly convicted for the killings of Marxist leader Maurice Bishop and 10 others days before the U.S. invasion. 

U.S. troops stormed the island in a mission the U.S. government said was aimed at restoring order, protecting hundreds of American medical students and preventing a buildup of Cuban military advisers and weapons. The invasion was criticized by the United Nations and Britain. 

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version