As a result. the bill contains serious flaws which would undermine both the rights of Americans and our efforts to promote democracy and human rights abroad. This legislation would eliminate the "political crimes defense" in extradition cases. if the defendant is charged with a crime of violence or conspiracy to commit violence. Thus. a contrived charge by a foreign government could secure extradition of a political refugee residing in this country. The legislation grants the State Department sole authority to deny an extradition request. if it determines that the request is politically motivated. These proposed changes could lead to the imprisonment. torture and murder of many Filipinos. Salvadorans. and others who have fled repressive regimes and sought refuge in the United States. For example. Benigno Aquino. a leading opponent of the Marcos regime in the Philippines and an associate at Harvard Universitys School of International Affairs. is one of over a dozen political refugees which the Marcos regime wants extradited. He has been charged with planning bombings in the Philippines. although the evidence against him is far from convincing. By stripping the courts of their power to prevent the extradition of political refugees. Aquino and others could become geopolitical pawns of the State Department. Given the administrations record of certifying human rights progress in El Salvador. when exactly the opposite is true. and lauding democracy in the repressive regimes of the Philippines and Chile. the State Departmein simply cannot be trusted to make objective determinations on extradition cases.
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refugee refugees