Show Trials

What do North Korea and Venezuela have in common?

Well for one thing their governments both seem quite happy to declare suspected criminals 'guilty' - before the people concerned are even brought to anything resembling a proper trial.

For example, an American citizen - Pae Jun-Ho (aka Kenneth Bae) - is to be sentenced by North Korea's Supreme Court after allegedly admitting allegations that he was attempting to overthrow the North Korean government.

Now this seems a tad overblown if you ask me, but the North Koreans are deadly serious and issued a statement saying: 

"The preliminary inquiry into crimes committed by American citizen Pae Jun-Ho are closed."

"In the process of investigation he admitted that he committed crimes aimed to topple the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) with hostility toward it."

"His crimes were proved by evidence. He will soon be taken to the Supreme Court of the DPRK to face judgement."

Now no one has seen any of the evidence presented against this young man, a Korean American - nor has he been allowed access to friends, family, American  consular officials or a lawyer - during his time in custody which dates back to November 2012.

So it all seems to fit in with the North Korean practice of arresting people on trumped up charges - alleging James Bond style espionage - when all the suspects have done is to break petty, bureaucratic rules involving the taking of photographs, for example. 

But the real aim of the North Koreans is to hold these individuals 'hostage' for a while - before releasing them to someone like former American President Bill Clinton - and after securing some monetary or diplomatic concessions.

Meanwhile halfway across the world, back in South America, things are just as bad - from an innocent until proven guilty point of view.

Because in Venezuela Henrique Capriles - the country's opposition leader - who challenged the result of the country's presidential poll has been accused of inciting violence - during the largely peaceful protests which have taken place since the election.

The government of President Nicolas Maduro has established a commission to investigate whether Henrique Capriles was responsible for any of the violence.

But much worse that that the Government appointed head of the commission - Pedro Carreno - has already found the opposition leader guilty by declaring Carpiles to be a "murderer".

And just so that the message is driven home, the head of Venezuela's National Assembly (Parliament) - Diosdado Cabello - went one better by describing Henrique Carpiles as a "fascist murderer".

Before the Prisons Minister - Iris Varela - chipped in with her comment that a jail cell awaits the country's opposition leader.

So, Venezuela which claims to be a left-leaning, socialist democracy is - if anything - worse than the Stalinist inspired government of North Korea - as it heads for an ugly show trial of an opposition leader who has already declared guilty - by leading members of the Venezuelan government.