# Crime, capture, tial, appeal and execution. All in 9 days! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 11, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crime-capture-tial-appeal-and-execution-all-in-9-days/168097 "2003-04-11T19:15:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bayonet1976](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bayonet1976](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bayonet1976)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crime-capture-tial-appeal-and-execution-all-in-9-days/168097/1 "2003-04-11T19:15:38Z")
From [this article](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8051-2003Apr11.html) > [@](#): > > Three men charged with terrorism for hijacking a passenger ferry April 2 were executed Friday after summary trials, the government reported. > > The men were prosecuted Tuesday in summary trials for “very grave acts of terrorism” and given several days to appeal their sentences, according to a statement read on state television. > > However, the sentences were upheld both by Cuba’s Supreme Tribunal and the ruling Council of State, and were carried out at dawn Friday, the statement said. How’s that for some speedy justice? Please note that according to the article: > [@](#): > > No one was hurt when the group, reportedly armed with at least one pistol and several knives, seized the ferry and its 50 passengers in Havana Bay early April 2 and ordered the captain to sail to the United States. This, of course on the heels of [the crackdown on dissidents](http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-04-09-cuba_x.htm) where sentences ranged from 6 to 28 years, for such crimes as > [@](#): > > “for their known participation in mercenary activities and other acts against the independence or the territorial integrity of the Cuban state.” IMO Castro is reacting to rumblings at home and abroad, some probably prompted by the war on his dictator-in-law Saddam, and this is only the beginning of a wider purge in the Cuban government. The question will be, will Castro’s still-iron-but-aging-grip be enough to hold on to power? Or will there be a military or popular uprising? My guess is that Castro will open his perennial escape valve and make some pronouncement about allowing anyone who wants to, to leave Cuba. However, that might not fly so well with the current US administration, so who knows. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crime-capture-tial-appeal-and-execution-all-in-9-days/168097/2 "2003-04-11T20:22:53Z")
Why don’t we invade Cuba? It’s only 90 miles away and I’m sure it would be easier to take over than Iraq. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crime-capture-tial-appeal-and-execution-all-in-9-days/168097/3 "2003-04-11T20:43:24Z")
It is no secret that Castro is taking advantage of world attention being focused elsewhere to carry out his repression. It has happened in the past. Contrary to what many think, I think many countries are getting tougher for two reasons: Big problems elsewhere mean they get less attention, and also because a higher level of tension seems to justify getting tough. ---
**Author:** ![errata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/839c29/32.png) [@errata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/errata)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crime-capture-tial-appeal-and-execution-all-in-9-days/168097/4 "2003-04-11T20:56:47Z")
Now that’s the kind of get tough approach on terrorism I like! Oh wait, that’s in a communist country? We shouldn’t let them violate civil rights like that! Maybe we need another war of liberation.