On air at 1100GMT: How should we deal with deposed leaders?
| 10:10 UK time, Wednesday, 13 April 2011
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This topic was discussed on April 13 2011. Listen to the programme. Hosni Mubarak in Egypt,
Egypt's prosecutor general has ordered the detention of former President Hosni Mubarak, ahead of an and abuse allegations. It follows tens of thousands of protesters staging weekly Friday protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square, demanding that he stand trial. But is that always the solution?
Is it more important to ensure that a leader who is oppressing his people steps down? If that means , without standing trial, would that mean more dictators would be willing to relinquish power? Would it be for the greater good of the country?
Then there is the issue of the justice itself. Should former leaders be tried in an internationally recognised court, or is it crucial that they face justice in their own country? Can that ever be a fair trial? in the Australian points out the difficulties in Ivory Coast,
"The new regime should think hard about prosecuting Gbagbo and about who is best placed to do it, not least because it, too, has blood on its hands. Earlier this month, Ouattara's forces massacred at least 300 people in Duekoue, a Gbagbo stronghold."
Others argue that without the fear of prosecution, dictators and leaders around the world would be more likely to commit atrocities, knowing they will never face justice.
We'll be discussing this at 1100GMT, post your thoughts below
