Bush administration says 1789 anti-piracy law may not be used by foreign nationals

Venezuela's Electronic News ^ | Tuesday, July 15, 2003 | VHeadline.com Reporters

[yonif]

Miami newspapers are reporting that relatives of those killed and wounded in street demonstrations ahead of the April 11 coup d'etat last year are planning a lawsuit in which they claim were victims of "a plot by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias."

Despite a wealth of evidence to the contrary, the families of six dead protesters and nine wounded are insisting that that Chavez "personally planned the assault on demonstrators at least four days in advance and coordinated the attack by radio."

In a copy of the lawsuit (listing 29 defendants and naming President Chavez, top government officials and army generals) sent to the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, their lawyers further allege that government intelligence officers and "paramilitary sharpshooters" (shielded by the military) were "unleashed by Chavez on peaceful protesters in an attack that killed 19."

The Venezuelan plaintiffs say they are taking the legal action in the hope of freezing Venezuelan government assets in the United States to Nevertheless, he says the action ... filed under a vague 1789 anti-piracy law was successfully used to win a $54.6 million award against two Salvadoran generals.

Meanwhile, the Bush administration ... wishing to avoid prosecution in a Belgian court for its own war crimes ... says the law cannot be used by foreign nationals suing over alleged human rights abuses in their homelands.

[Darksheare]

"Meanwhile, the Bush administration....wishing to avoid prosecution in a Belgian court for its own war crimes "

The article writer had it half-right until there.
Which brings to mind the old question, "How much falsehood can a statment have and yet remain true?"

The article writer is a few loads short a a boatload.. forget anything smaller.

[Darksheare]

"six dead protesters and nine wounded "
Correction, that's about all he had right.

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