ZIUA USA

February, 10-16, 2006

Petition for Teo Peter

“The Political Coffee House” discussion forum initiated a petition to contest the decision of the US Martial Court * 38.000 signatures were registered until Wednesday

Over 38.000 signatures were registered until Wednesday to support an online petition requesting for justice to be made in the case against Sgt. Christopher VanGoethem , found not guilty under the accusation of negligent homicide of Teo Peter.

The petition was initiated by a discussion forum called “The Political Coffee House” and it is especially directed to the American Congress, Presidency, US Justice Department and Senator Hilary Clinton.

The authors of the petition are outraged by the decision took in this case and consider that “it proves a lack of international fair play”. Even more, the authors of the protest claim that 22 million Romanians would like to believe that the United States are governed by the rule of law and not by lies. The petition is available for signature on the wed address http://new.petitiononline.com/00769200/petition.html

We are “second hand citizens”

According to Mediafax Press Agency most of the petition signatories also registered messages on the website, such as: “The Big, Powerful and Wealthy is right while the Small, Weak and Poor has no justice”, “Some of us are more equal than the others…” or “What happened is disgraceful. This decision proves that non-Americans are secondhand citizens in the eyes of American justice. It is offensive to the Romanian people…forget about military bases here, ok?”

On the other hand, the idea of opening a civil case is denied by most of the petition signatories explaining that musician Teo Peter's son does not want money from the ones that killed his father; he only hoped that justice would be made in this case. “I don't think that Teo Peter's son wants the money from his father's killer, he only expected real American justice. But this was not justice; it was a charade, comments another signatory.

Meanwhile some of the messages on the website pay homage to the memory of musician Teo Peter and praise the man Teo Peter was: ” Teo Peter was a great man and this is at least what you could do: to get him a fair trial.” (M.V.R.)

Teo Peter jr. wants a trial in the US

“We do not request money, but moral reparation”

The son of musician Teo Peter, Teo Peter jr. could contact an American lawyer if he decides to open a civil case against marine sergeant Cristopher VanGoethem . The reason for initiating such a trial would not be financial damages but moral reparation. According to Teo Peter jr. the sentence pronounced by the military Martial Court in Virginia , which clears Cristopher VanGoethem of negligent homicide, became a problem for Romanians. “We do not ask for money but for moral reparation for my father. It's unacceptable for somebody to suppose that we are stupid and argue that my father was not even in the cab when the accident took place. The Romanian Government and the Romanian people should react because it is a national shame” said the son of the musician. Quoted by Mediafax , he also stated that his family did not decide yet which appeal means would use against the sentence pronounced by the military Martial Court in Virginia , adding that they will take all options into consideration. “We are decided to do everything possible, but it's disturbing for us when it is said that we have no chance. I think that if we all fight we could manage to change something.” (M.V.R.)

The Association for the Protection of Human Rights Informs International Organizations

President of the Association for the Protection of Human Rights (APHR), Florentin Scaletchi hosted a press conference on the decision in the case against US marine sergeant. APHR president stated that the way the trial was conducted is outrageous, a real charade and it also has negative effects on the image of US justice in the Romanian public eye. Scaletchi said that the ignorance of the US authorities in connection to the documents that Romanian authorities such as Police, Attorney's office, forensic detectives released immediately after the accident took place is a blatant violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

(Written by Voichita Rascanu )