Vikram Buddhi, Anti-Bush Blogger, Wrongfully Jailed, Says Family (VIDEO)

The case of an Indian student jailed in the U.S. more than three years ago, is being seen as a major test of America's human rights.

A jury found Vikram Buddhi guilty of posting online threats against the former U.S. President George W. Bush.

RT's Karan Singh has been following the growing campaign for his release.

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Comments

[future primitive]

First. Please consider what stuff gets linked from RT (Russia Today). It's state controlled media that is widely suspected of being merely a "cheerleader for the Kremlin" and Canadian Broadcasting has called it "a continuation of the old Soviet propaganda services." The only other place on the web that I have seen RT sourced was a junk science post on Worldview Weekend, an evangelical website that shows stuff from Ken Ham (Answers in Genesis) and Ray Comfort (Kirk Cameron's creationist buddy. The banana guy). It seems to me from looking at RT's reportage that any thing that makes the US look bad in any way is a story that runs.

Second. I had to look fairly thoroughly on the internet to find out exactly what this guy did. The AP reported in 2007 that he was convicted for posts that included “Call for the assassination of GW Bush” and “Rape and Kill Laura Bush.” And that he does not deny this accusation.

The only news sources on this item I can find are Russia Today and basically every blog on the Indian subcontinent. None are clear about his politics, his state of mind, or even his area of study (mathematics, engineering, cancer research are all reported).

If we are going to call out (and rightly so) our own conservative media for pushing the teabaggers into a frenzy, then in my mind this guy should definitely do some jail time if he really posted those things. Period.

[KIVPossum]

You are right on all counts.

RT is a propaganda machine with a sole purpose of showing the U.S. in a negative light and a few National Enquirer type articles.

The Google does nothing but find the same few paragraphs on a dozen blogs.

It appears he admits he posted the statements and shows no remorse. It make no difference what president, admired or hated, it is illegal to call for their assassination.

He's where he needs to be.

[rtb61]

I quite enjoy Russia Today as they do very much generate a counter view and, tackle news stories from a different perspective. Overall by adding their view, to corporate western for profit view, helps to create a middle ground, that pretty much aligns with independent media. Don't like Russia Today, get over it, it is a Russian view on what is going on in the world done in english, with a Russian perspective. If you want a US view go to US media, a UK view go to UK media etc. and if you want a world view read them from all over the place. The internet really does make the news so much more accessible and makes lies so much harder to get away with over the long run.

[Izomagritte369]

Massive assumptions about this man and his case are being made here. The article gives little information about what Buddi allegedly did. Allegedly seems to be the operative word here - apparently there was some rather unjudicial behavior on the part of the judge. For example, the Judge in the case opted to not explain first amendment rights to the jury and then threatened the defense attorney if he explained them. There also seem to be characteristic Bush era shenanigans involving Buddi's father when he came to help his son.

You can read more about it here:

http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/international/innocent-but-guilty

[Khirad]

I think the the punitive reaction may have been a little too much in this case. I sure would need more information to this story, but a threat upon the president should be regarded the same, whether from the left, or the right (the latter who tend to have more munitions to consider when determining the seriousness of their intent). Also, the wording in this case was indirect. I think maybe if that was it that he be given a warning, maybe scare him with a few days in jail? My question is this, and it's a genuine query: what's happened to the guy who posted the Facebook poll?

[brady61995]

agreed if you threaten any life you should be punished. freedom of speach should not include threatening the life of others.

[nexxtep54]

The Bush legacy in these matters will be as those who killed using axes.

[Whinger]

The rule of law must be upheld, but many glorious leaders responsible for the deaths and maiming of countless thousands of innocents are beyond the long arm of the law!

It seems an emotional threat is much more serious than killing countless thousands!

That's what happens when justice wears a blindfold.

[fairywhatnot]

So, he gets incarcerated for veiled threats against gw, but thugs that do the same agaisnt President Obama - and PUBLICLY, AND WAY MORE THREATENING - just get a slap with a wet noodle on their wrists.

I just saw a French video clip from the last election about Sarah Palin and her upbringing­s/backgrou­nd , and you see a photo pinned up at a gun shop in Wasilla, AK (her 'home town'), with Obama having a bullet in his head, and his brains showing... THAT is NOT a threat??? When people go to a venue carrying guns where President Obama will appear THAT is NOT a threat??? Again: they just get away with some stern lecture and slap on the wrist with a wet noodle...

[janeycat]

oh forgot ~~~~ Fanned

[AddyGmom]

Who pressed charges against this guy?

I'd like to see the 'rightwingwienies ' have to answer for their incendiary­/traitorou­s remarks.

[Pulu74]

He "posted the controversial Internet messages over several months towards the end of 2005. Contrary to the US government’s contention that the messages threatened Bush and co, the messages, in fact, called upon Iraqis to avenge the war on their country. The posts are misguided, racist, and in appalling language, calling upon Iraqis to rape and kill ‘ANGLOSAXONS’ in a ‘TIT-FOR-TAT WAR’."
"The subject’s message was titled, CALL FOR ASSASSINATION OF GW BUSH.’"

Whats MORE alarming is the secret service let this man go initially:
"For two-and-a-half days they interrogated Vikram, then let him off, and filed a report clearly stating that he was not a threat to anyone. The matter should have ended there. But it didn’t. Ostensibly without a new motive, in the early evening of 14 April 2006, Secret Service agents arrested Vikram from his university apartment at Purdue."

Looks like Cheney had a talk with the secret service.
Source: http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/international/innocent-but-guilty

[KIVPossum]

Thank you, that's the closest I've come to knowing exactly what he posted.

If that was the subject message, then leave him in jail. We can't allow people to call for the assassination of any president.

[VillainUs]

Then there are a whole lot of people running around free who should be locked up.

[DC]

This is strange. I was watching in astonishment delusional outburst on some religious TV broadcast this week. There were also threats and incitement against the President. One could also buy his delusions in book form for 29.95.

The TV preacher will not be arrested. But perhaps should be.

[brady61995]

yes he should be. any threat of violence should be met with legal force.

[CoronaDischarge]

I think the key to this issue is that he was found guilty at trial. Regardless of partisan persuasion he had his day in court. The law is clear about both threats on the internet and more specifically expressed threats against the President in any form. He apparently attempted to conceal his identity when he posted his messages by not using his own on-line account. I don't have a lot of sympathy for this case regardless of the rhetorical claims now made by the defendant. The rule of Law is the issue here. Not the politics of the President against whom threats may have been made.

[Pieface]

Well said!

[MontanaSouth]

My only question is why haven't the same charges been brought against the plethora of people who have posted or protests with threats to Pres. Obama?

[GrahamInCanada]

Remember, next time the HP moderator declines to post a post, the moderator could be saving you from jail!

[Klimb]

India better not put this on Obama...everybody thinks Obama owes them something. India should have put pressure on Bush adm as much as they are doing now. Again, these are some of the things the Bush adm left hanging for Obama.

[eweqo]

you never know, maybe obama will suck it up and act presidential. stranger things have happen. he convined all the uninformed voters he was up for the job and now goes around making excuses of why he can't accomplish anything. pretty soon people will wake up.

[Cambridge9]

Sorry Pal, we woke up last November!

[Klimb]

FYI...I've been awake forever and don't need a wake up call. India shld have applied the same pressure on Bush like they are trying to do to Obama, now...there many things on POTUS' plate right now. BTW, name what POTUS hasn't been able to do in 9 months...easier said than proven...I guess the slowing down of the about collapsed economy was done by Bush or invisible hands.

[overcat]

If indeed he did make threats, he was foolish. Threatening public officials is a fast track to a jail cell, especially threatening the President of the US. For a non citizen in this country to do so is even more foolish. This isn't about thoughtcrimes, it's about threats. I disliked Bush as much as any sane, decent person, but under no circumstances would I have ever made public threats of violence or attempted to incite violence against him. It's just a dumb thing to do, no matter how many PHD'S you have.

[sviolette]

That's crazy. There are people threatening Obama on the streets of Washington DC that haven't even been looked at funny by the FBI or secret service. They carry guns to town halls for crying out loud.

[HST]

If this story is true then we better start rounding up the tea-baggin' birthers.

Throw 'em in Gitmo!

[Pieface]

The punk was a foreigner and stupidly posted a threat to our president. Of course he's doing time!

[JuergenHartl]

All right, then Glenn Beck and his cohorts should be in jail too.

[amalfedup]

I wonder why all the punks posting and advertising threats on syndicated shows are still free to roam the streets. Oh wait! They are of white European ancestry. I am glad there is still justice and equality in America.

[TheBaffler]

Oh noes! A foreigner!