Author: Hank Nuwer

Excerpt from Sowetan:

his was revealed when the case of four men accused of running an illegal initiation school, where the deaths took place, was postponed in the Botshabelo Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

State prosecutor Nomsa Ngwata asked the court to postpone the matter because more suspects were expected to be arrested.

“I ask for a postponement of the case because other suspects are expected to be arrested and the police also need to verify the addresses of the accused,” Ngwata said.

Daniel Thabatau, 29, his brother Lehlohonolo Thabatau, 26, Mohau Motumi, 24 and Sesing Chapi, 21, are facing four charges of murder and of assault.

Sibongile Tloubatla, the lawyer representing Thabatau and Lehlohonolo, was unhappy about the postponement. She argued that she was ready to proceed with the formal bail application because her clients were entitled to a speedy trial.

Pono Setshedi, who represented Motumi and Chapi, said: “My clients have been in custody for two weeks now and I believe their rights have been infringed. They have the right to apply for and be granted bail.”

Thabatau, Lehlohonolo, Motumi and Chapi allegedly killed initiates Morena Potsane, 17, Mthandazo Kuzwayo, 19, Itumeleng Tshiane, 19, and Thembekile Motselebane, 18, two weeks ago.

The deceased were allegedly assaulted and their buttocks burnt with hot iron rods.

Thabatau is alleged to have been the leader of the initiation school, while Lehlohonolo, Motumi and Chapi were tutors.

Police were alerted about the deaths after one of the initiates died in hospital from severe injuries.

Police found 30 initiates and three bodies at the initiation school. Eleven initiates with severe injuries had to be taken to hospital.

Here is the story link and except

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday backed the proposal of his colleagues in the Senate to amend the Anti-Hazing Law to include among those criminally liable officials of universities and colleges which accredited fraternities and student organizations that are still engaging in hazing activities.

“Prospectively, school heads should be held liable for the death of their students in fraternity hazing rituals,” Lacson told reporters in a weekly forum at the Senate.

Lacson said that the existing Anti-hazing Law or Republic Act 8049 needs improvement since the law provides that universities and colleges should be informed at least seven days prior to the initiation rites for them to be able to send representatives who will supervise the activity.

However, this provision has not been followed by schools and organizations.

“Everytime we hear news about deaths in hazing rituals obviously no school representatives were present there…,” he said.

He added that institutions like the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are also covered by the law.

Here is the reaction to the column

excerpt: As the title suggested, it was about putting the blame also on the willing victims and not just on those doing the hazing in order to prevent students from joining “brotherhoods” that inflict violence on candidates.

Law student Marc Andre Marcos of San Beda Law School (run by Benedictine monks) died last week after initiation rites of the Lex Leonum Fraternitas, which is not recognized by the school.

Among the letters I received, one was from a mother and another from a frat man-university professor-government official. Neither wants to be identified.

The mother wrote: “I read your article and I could not help but cry. If you have the time, please read the open letter that I have been wanting to write for over a decade now… I am keeping [myself] anonymous due the sensitive intricacies in the fraternity to which [my husband] belongs.

“Your article struck a very raw nerve because my husband is a victim of hazing, a willing victim. He entered law school and joined his fraternity after our children were born. As if he didn’t have enough brothers and sisters, he sought the brotherhood of more…”

August 7, 2012

Contact
Phuket Jennings
Burlington School District

Henri Sparks, Equity Director of the Burlington School District, has been appointed to sit on the Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying Prevention Advisory Council recently announced by Commissioner of Education Armando Vilaseca. This council will provide a regular forum for communication and collaboration between Vermont’s Commissioner of Education and the community. Commissioner Vilaseca reports the goal of the council is to provide resources and supports to schools as they address issues of harassment, hazing and/or bullying.

Burlington Schools has committed to addressing the issue of harassment and discrimination, particularly around race, in recent months. Superintendent Jeanné Collins notes the District is pleased to have Sparks sitting on this council. “Burlington has a lot of experience to share with the state on addressing these issues. We also have much we can learn through conversation with other leaders in the state on how to improve our own climate. Mr. Sparks will be an excellent representative as he works within our own schools to create a welcoming climate for all students and families.”

The advisory council will be composed of a varied group of individuals, with Sparks the only school district representative. The council will be chaired by Tracey Tsugawa of the Vermont Human Rights Commission.

Here is the story link and excerpt from The Sun newspaper

A student suspected in a hazing case at A.B. Miller High in Fontana, which involved the alleged attempted sexual assault of two students, now seeks to withdraw a guilty plea that he entered in Superior Court last month.

A lawyer for 18-year-old Fernando Manuel Salgado has filed a motion in Fontana Superior Court to withdraw the guilty plea, which was part of an agreement with prosecutors. Salgado appeared in court today for sentencing proceedings, which did not occur.

The case was continued to Sept. 6 to give prosecutors a chance to respond to Salgado’s motion, according to Chris Lee, a spokesman for the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office. Judge Douglas Fettel, who took Salgado’s plea on July 16, will hear the defense motion next month, Lee said.

On July 16, Salgado had admitted guilt to one count of sexual penetration with a foreign object and one count of assault with a deadly weapon in Fontana Superior Court, as part of a plea bargain, according to court records.