William Pepper Submits Legal Opinion in Support of Spanish Torture Investigations

Digg this story.

(This story originally appeared in the Spanish Publico on May 9, 2009. Predictably, the U.S. press ignored it. Below find an English translation, and note that the translation is cross-posted at the Daily Kos, and DemocraticUnderground.com. -rep.)


U.S. Lawyers point to Bush for the tortures

The lawyer of Martin Luther King’s family contributes a thorough report to the Spanish lawsuit to reinforce the charge -- The American Civil Liberties Union offers their colaboration

Pere Rusiñol in Madrid (Público)
Translation: Lynn Strother

A group of lawyers in the United States, led by William F. Pepper, the veteran human rights lawyer linked to Martin Luther King’s family, have joined the Spanish lawsuit about Guantanamo and the tortures of the Bush administration. Pepper has contributed a 121 page document to the prosecution, in which he defends Spain’s right to investigate, and suggests that the proceedings be widened to charge former president George W. Bush directly.

The U.S. lawyers also contribute 45 documents to the lawsuit – some, declassified recently; others, of public knowledge for years – that permit the "tracking of the process of decision making" that led to the application of methods equivalent to torture with the detainees of the "war against terrorism".

All of these documents are now part of the lawsuit that the judge Eloy Velasco is preparing in the National High Court against six lawyers who built the "legal scaffolding" which led to Guantanamo. They will also be included in the twin process being prepared by Baltazar Garzón, in which, besides the charge against the lawyers they demand action against political figures of the Bush administration, like the former head of the Pentagon, Donald Rumsfeld, and his advisor on national security and later Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.

The extensive document of the U.S. lawyers requests the investigation be widened to include Bush and his vice-president Dick Cheney. "It would be an injustice not to prosecute those who occupied the highest positions of authority. It would be like processing Eichmann and overlooking Hitler", wrote Pepper before presenting his legal position.

Quote by Conde-Pumpido

The 71 year old lawyer, who studied at Columbia University and the London School of Economics, quotes the Spanish Attorney-General, Cándido Conde-Pumpido to reinforce his petition that Bush also be investigated. Conde-Pumpido charged very severely againt the initial lawsuit – presented only against Bush’s lawyers – and classified it as "fraudulent" because it was directed against the lawyers and not the responsible politicians.

The double investigation by the Spanish High Court about the legalization of practices equivalent to torture – like waterboarding – have already made strong inroads in the U.S. and not only in the form of editorials in the related press.

The Obama administration will have to answer a plea commission sent by Judge Velasco interested in learning if there is an ongoing investigation in the U.S. And the U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder, has made it clear that he intends to collaborate with the judicial requirements of other countries, in spite of the poisonous campaign against started by heavyweight neocons like John Bolton.

The lawyers in the U.S. have also taken the lawsuit in Spain very seriously. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) , the important NGO for civil rights, which forced the declassification of secret memoranda of the CIA, sent the investigator Jameel Jaffer to Madrid for three days. He offered the support of the organization so that Spain could go ahead with the prosecution.

Recruiting lawyers

Pepper’s group is now recruiting lawyers to also put them at the disposition of the lawsuit and create a network of support that includes activists and NGOs. He wrote the report, that is already at the disposal of Spanish justice, himself. "It has been many hours of work, but I think this has been the most important case in my life for the advancement of international human rights law", he explained to Público from Washington, his base of operations besides London.

The document analyzes the presumed responsibility of Bush and his team from the 45 official texts received – from the declaration of national emergency, the 14th of September 2001, up to the recently declassified memoranda - , but it concentrates on reinforcing the right of Spain to apply universal jurisdiction because no lawsuit has been made in the U.S.

"The crimes that have been committed are a clear violation of international law. Not only have the obligations that most nations impose on each other by treaties been violated, but also the basic rules built up over centuries", Pepper concludes.

An icon for the civil rights NGO

William E.Pepper has been an example for the groups in the United States that defend civil rights for 40 years. He was one of Martin Luther King’s close friends when he was assassinated in Memphis in 1968, and later became the lawyer of reference of the family in their crusade to unmask who really was behind the crime.

Pepper has consecrated his life to this lawsuit, even defending James Earl Ray, who was found guilty for the assassination; and who the family of King always considered a mere sacrificial goat to avoid the exposure of those really responsible. Pepper has published several books about these proceedings, the most recent of which is: An Act of State (in Spain, Un acto de Estado, published by Foca).

In the book, Pepper points to the CIA and the FBI as part of the plan to eliminate the bothersome King. The book has been praised by Ramsey Clark, who was the attorney-general of the U.S. when the black leader was assassinated.

Pepper, who lives between the United Kingdom and the United States, has always combined his role as a lawyer – educated at Columbia, researcher at Oxford and lecturer at the best universities in the U.S., from Princeton to Harvard – with that of activist, which led him to Vietnam as a journalist. He has also specialized in international law.

At 71 years old, he considers this lawsuit opened in Spain to be the most important one of his life towards claiming international responsibility and intends to dedicate body and soul to it.

Big story!

The world knows now...

Drummerboy
**********************************************************
You can't hide a lie for long. Truth shall come out.

William F Pepper & the landmark 1999 MLK trial

Reprehensor has a historic collection of posts and videos about the King Family trial which proved that the government conspired to assassinate Martin Luther King, Jr.

Video Exclusive: Dr. William F. Pepper Opens the MLK Conspiracy Trial - November 16, 1999
http://www.911blogger.com/node/14256

World Video Premiere: The Truth about the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://www.911blogger.com/node/14438

New Video: How the US Government Spreads Disinformation Through the Media, via the CIA and FBI
http://www.911blogger.com/node/14275

MLK - 40 years of Disinfo
http://www.911blogger.com/node/14736

YouTube playlists update: Cynthia McKinney - William Pepper/MLK Trial
http://www.911blogger.com/node/14479

Dr. William F. Pepper: The New York City Ballot Initiative & the Re-investigation of 9/11 By an Independent Citizens Commission
http://www.911blogger.com/node/13476

"It is you who are the torch-bearers with respect to that truth.... ...Steel your spines. Inspire your children. Then when the moment is right, rise again...." W PEPPER

Off topic but Important

I believe the following accusations are without warrant and Should be ADDRESSED As Soon As Possible by the relevant Parties before it goes out of hand. Pls do due dilligence, investigate and refute all the allegations.

Rep, I hope you would look into this and put a stop to speculation at the Prison Planet Forum and elsewhere including here before unsubstantiated accusations get out of hand.

I decided not to ignore this and post it, so that it can be nipped in the bud.

Hope it is OK. I am distressed about these accusations and hope it will be refuted in the strongest manner possible.

Thank You.

At the PrisonPlanet Forum.

From user: Scootle What the hell is going on with the 9/11 truth movement?

http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=107707.msg656683;topicseen...

Dylan Avery's pissed at Alex ...

There's a civil war going on over at 911Blogger...

... And now WeAreChange are pissed off with Luke Rudkowski ...
http://www.crotchshotradio.com/2009/05/shoe-is-on-other-foot.html

The COINTELPRO, Divide-and-conquer agents seem to have done their job well...

------------EDIT------------------------------------------------------

Thank You TomT for quickly rising to the defense and STATING the TRUTH Clearly at the PrisionPlanet Forum. Since, the handle is the same, I assume it is indeed TomT from 911Blogger.com

From TomT at PrisonPlanet Forum : http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=107707.msg656749#msg656749

Quote from: Scootle on Today at 06:29:15 AM

"There's a civil war going on over at 911Blogger..."

I have read 911Blogger EVERYDAY for years. EVERYDAY! THERE IS NO CIVIL WAR GOING ON AT 911BLOGGER. 911Blogger is cool. It is civil. It is full of accurate news accounts. It has many thousands of happy readers.

I think that you should amend the original post, because the post only antagonizes and prompts speculation, rumors, and division.

I would like to delete this Thread, because it is like creating a huge bleeding sore which originally was only a tiny little red blotch on the skin.
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I do hope other 911 Truthers will refute these allegations and nip it in the bud. Our silence will only allow further accusations to grow and fester.

My post may not be popular because it highlights something negative, but , part of our responsibilities include dealing with Co-Intel Pro, false allegations etc.

So we cannot ignore it.

Right now I am very very suspicious of user Scootle from PrisonPlanet Forum. He is now posting an e-mail (allegedly) from a 911 Blogger user(which he does not name) Attacking William Rodriguez.

http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=107707.msg656795#msg656795

Smells like Co-Intel Pro & Divisiveness to me.

Let us not be Silent in Defense of the Truth & the Truth Movement at large.

Somebody is playing dirty tricks here and I for one am far from pleased.
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The CONSTITUTION is NOT going to "collapse" into pulverized dust no matter how much thermate/explosives or planes they throw at it

THERE IS NO CIVIL WAR GOING ON AT 911BLOGGER.

For all troublemakers and Co-Intel Pro Agents out there.

This is for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrKo_EeagB8

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The CONSTITUTION is NOT going to "collapse" into pulverized dust no matter how much thermate/explosives or planes they throw at it

Made me cry

Thank you

Some asshole on the

Some asshole on the prisonplanet forum started some rumour about Daniel Estulin being a Bilderberg member as well.

Daniel Estulin on The Alex Jones Show 1/3:Future Plans of The Global Elite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMA1QW1wZ_Y

Daniel Estulin on The Alex Jones Show 2/3:Future Plans of The Global Elite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmmYoEiBehQ

Daniel Estulin on The Alex Jones Show 3/3:Future Plans of The Global Elite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XKIgdgRams

Thanks for pointing it out.

There seems to be a Co-Intel Ops going on at the Infowar Forums.

We have to be vigilant.

I hope you guys will keep an eye out as they may try to drag 911Blogger AND 911 Truth through the mud-slinging process.

Some Damage Control may be needed.

Looks like Jefferson's words echo true yet again.

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

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The CONSTITUTION is NOT going to "collapse" into pulverized dust no matter how much thermate/explosives or planes they throw at it

Conjuring up and playing up rumors...

is textbook COINTELPRO;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO#Methods

"# Infiltration: Agents and informers did not merely spy on political activists. Their main purpose was to discredit and disrupt. Their very presence served to undermine trust and scare off potential supporters. The FBI and police exploited this fear to smear genuine activists as agents.

# Psychological Warfare From the Outside: The FBI and police used myriad other "dirty tricks" to undermine progressive movements. They planted false media stories and published bogus leaflets and other publications in the name of targeted groups. They forged correspondence, sent anonymous letters, and made anonymous telephone calls. They spread misinformation about meetings and events, set up pseudo movement groups run by government agents, and manipulated or strong-armed parents, employers, landlords, school officials and others to cause trouble for activists.

...COINTELPRO spread false rumors..."

The Willie basher is probably an ex-user... petgoat.

Thanks for the input

We however cannot ignore these guys especially when they try their tricks in major forums like PrisonPlanet Forum.

United we can put down their malicious whispering campaigns, slanders and other dirty attempts to sow discord and division amongst the Truth Movement.

We can have disagreements but let us ALWAYS be united under the banner of the Constitution and seek Justice and Truth for the victims of 911 past, present and unfortunately future as the 911 Wars rage on.

911 Blogger has set a global standard for civil and critical analysis of 911 Relation Information.

We have made much progress over the years and the fruits of these labours will bear great fruit one day.

Let no saboteur attempt to derail this process.

We don't need anymore Benedict Arnolds.

Instead let 21st Century George Washingtons, Jeffersons, Madisons,Adams,Hancocks,Franklins, Ghandis, Martin Luther Kings etc to arise and lead a New Republic born and tried from the Fires of Fascism, Tyranny and Treason to a Truly FREE Republic Restored to her Original Heritage.

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." - Thomas Jefferson

We will not be silent.
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The CONSTITUTION is NOT going to "collapse" into pulverized dust no matter how much thermate/explosives or planes they throw at it

One unaddressed uncivility

A few weeks ago, someone posted an obscene uncivility. I am not going to make any references to it, because I don't want to give it attention. All I'll say is that it had these symbols instead of letters "#@^%$*&*.
I hope everyone will refrain from using language with these symbols.

Done.

Done.

distractions and nyc can

william pepper is the key person behind a new investigation behind 9/11..

he is someone of utmost integrity and experience in dealing with
crimes of the state..

www.nyccan.org

and bringing off topic rumors on this topic is really sad..

since when new folks check blogger.. they get all confused and could miss
the real news of the patriots questioning 9/11 et al..

thanks for this post.. and william pepper.. and the world standing up for truth..

fyi.. check out latest article by christopher story with many corroborating details
on the international war going on.. which is what is behind the continuing financial crisis..
and leaked pandemics.. still harming innocent people for sick elitists.. or greedy mad people..
www.worldreports.org/news

jonathan

ps.. regarding nyc can..
i posted this pdf to a letter for getting more support to really get a real 9/11 investigation.. beginning this year..
http://files.meetup.com/300645/NYC%20CAN%20-%20support%20letter.pdf

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