November 21, 2004: Headlines: COS - Vanuatu : Crime: Safety and Security of Volunteers: BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific: The Appeal Court has reduced by 23 years the original sentence of a man who raped a US Peace Corps volunteer early this year

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Vanuatu: Peace Corps Vanuatu : The Peace Corps in Vanuatu: November 21, 2004: Headlines: COS - Vanuatu : Crime: Safety and Security of Volunteers: BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific: The Appeal Court has reduced by 23 years the original sentence of a man who raped a US Peace Corps volunteer early this year

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-36-89.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.36.89) on Saturday, November 27, 2004 - 7:10 pm: Edit Post

The Appeal Court has reduced by 23 years the original sentence of a man who raped a US Peace Corps volunteer early this year

The Appeal Court has reduced by 23 years the original sentence of a man who raped a US Peace Corps volunteer early this year

The Appeal Court has reduced by 23 years the original sentence of a man who raped a US Peace Corps volunteer early this year

Vanuatu sentence for rape of US Peace Corps volunteer slashed

Nov 21, 2004

BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific

Excerpt from report by Vanuatu Daily Post newspaper on 19 November

The Appeal Court has reduced by 23 years the original sentence of a man who raped a US Peace Corps volunteer early this year. Originally the Supreme Court had sentenced the appellant to 30 years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to a charge of rape. However, Ethric Obed, 20, will now have to serve seven years in prison for the rape he committed while attending Vaiduhu Rural Training Centre on the island of Malo.

The Supreme Court judge had ruled that the appellant not be released on licence or pardon until he had served at least two- thirds of the 30-year term imposed. Obed appealed against the sentence on the ground that it was "manifestly excessive" in the face of the charge, for which he was unrepresented during trial and pleaded guilty.

The appeal bench in its final judgment ruled that it had no hesitation in allowing the appeal against the sentence imposed, which was manifestly excessive and unprecedented. A new sentence was then imposed based on a judgment of a case heard by the chief justice in 2000 between the public prosecutor and Ali August, which set out a relevant sentencing guideline. The guideline stated that for rape committed by an adult without any aggravating or mitigating features, a figure of five years should be taken as the starting point in a contested case. [passage omitted]

The Appeal Court stated: "We do not wish to minimize or diminish in any way the seriousness of the offence with which the appellant was charged or the undoubted personal distress and trauma that would have been experienced by the complainant and her husband, who we understand left Vanuatu after the incident".

The decision was handed down by Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek, Justice Von Doussa, Justice Fatiaki, Justice Robertson, Justice Treston and Justice Bulu.





When this story was posted in November 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

The Birth of the Peace Corps The Birth of the Peace Corps
UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.
Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes
Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.
Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying
Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.
Your vote makes a difference Your vote makes a difference
Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.
Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers
The Kerry campaign wants the RPCV vote. Read our interview with Dave Magnani, Massachusetts State Senator and Founder of "RPCVs for Kerry," and his answers to our questions about Kerry's plan to triple the size of the Peace Corps, should the next PC Director be an RPCV, and Safety and Security issues. Then read the "RPCVs for Kerry" statement of support and statements by Dr. Robert Pastor, Ambassador Parker Borg, and Paul Oostburg Sanz made at the "RPCVs for Kerry" Press Conference.

RPCV Carl Pope says the key to winning this election is not swaying undecided voters, but persuading those already willing to vote for your candidate to actually go to the polls.

Take our poll and tell us what you are doing to support your candidate.

Finally read our wrap-up of the eight RPCVs in Senate and House races around the country and where the candidates are in their races.
Director Gaddi Vasquez:  The PCOL Interview Director Gaddi Vasquez: The PCOL Interview
PCOL sits down for an extended interview with Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez. Read the entire interview from start to finish and we promise you will learn something about the Peace Corps you didn't know before.

Plus the debate continues over Safety and Security.

Read the stories and leave your comments.






Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Vanuatu ; Crime; Safety and Security of Volunteers

PCOL15058
27

.

By Anonymous (cpe-124-177-116-120.qld.bigpond.net.au - 124.177.116.120) on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 9:40 pm: Edit Post

I have been living in Vanuatu for almost 8 years now and i can tell you that the situation has changed dramatically. in fact, people use to be friendly but the new generation is getting really violent. The criminality has been increasing rapidly. However, i can not give you any figures because of the lack of information but the country is so small that you know what is going on. I know several women who have been raped and the local police won't and can't do anything. It is time for countries such as New caledonia and Australia to do something before it blows out of proportion.
The paradise is becoming an hell for foreigner living there. the criminality is increasing so rapidly that Vanuatu is becoming a mini Brazil. I know that i can sound absurd but as a matter of fact it is becoming dangerous to live there.
I do HOPE that foreign countries are going to help us before we get in big trouble.


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: