One deserve one year in jail, the other liberty over conscription, so why this guy was sent into jail ? He should have the conscientious objector status.
Quote,
U.S. deserter sentenced to year in jail
Last Updated Fri, 21 May 2004 21:57:17
FORT STEWART, GA. - A U.S. soldier who left his unit in Iraq to protest against the war was convicted of desertion Friday and sentenced to a year in jail and a bad conduct discharge.
Staff Sgt. Camilo Mejia said he had no regrets over his actions and did not fear going to jail for what he said was a matter of principle.
A jury of four officers and four enlisted soldiers took about 20 minutes to decide to give Mejia the maximum sentence.
The 28-year-old Mejia, an infantry squad leader with the Florida National Guard, refused to return to his unit after a two-week furlough in October.
Called war unjust
The said he believes the conflict in Iraq is an unjust war driven by the need for oil.
In March, he turned himself in to the Army and asked for conscientious objector status. That request is being considered separately.
Capt. Tad Warfel, Mejia's commander, said Friday he hoped the verdict would be a warning that deserters would be punished, regardless of their reasons.
In his closing arguments, defence lawyer Louis Font said Mejia made an honest mistake by thinking he did not have to serve in Iraq anymore, once he decided to become a conscientious objector.
Mejia is the son of Nicaragua's leading left-wing singer.
Link:http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/05/21/world/desert040521
Do you agree, would you do the same as he did ?
I also knowed that there is a Canadian refugies for those US soldier which want to desert, it is not official but it exist. So welcome american conscitious objector, free country still exist.
Quote,
U.S. deserter sentenced to year in jail
Last Updated Fri, 21 May 2004 21:57:17
FORT STEWART, GA. - A U.S. soldier who left his unit in Iraq to protest against the war was convicted of desertion Friday and sentenced to a year in jail and a bad conduct discharge.
Staff Sgt. Camilo Mejia said he had no regrets over his actions and did not fear going to jail for what he said was a matter of principle.
A jury of four officers and four enlisted soldiers took about 20 minutes to decide to give Mejia the maximum sentence.
The 28-year-old Mejia, an infantry squad leader with the Florida National Guard, refused to return to his unit after a two-week furlough in October.
Called war unjust
The said he believes the conflict in Iraq is an unjust war driven by the need for oil.
In March, he turned himself in to the Army and asked for conscientious objector status. That request is being considered separately.
Capt. Tad Warfel, Mejia's commander, said Friday he hoped the verdict would be a warning that deserters would be punished, regardless of their reasons.
In his closing arguments, defence lawyer Louis Font said Mejia made an honest mistake by thinking he did not have to serve in Iraq anymore, once he decided to become a conscientious objector.
Mejia is the son of Nicaragua's leading left-wing singer.
Link:http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/05/21/world/desert040521
Do you agree, would you do the same as he did ?
I also knowed that there is a Canadian refugies for those US soldier which want to desert, it is not official but it exist. So welcome american conscitious objector, free country still exist.
