Pedophiles, the rich, the powerful and Ghislaine Maxwell - EDITORIAL

‘Vocabulary.com’ describes pedophiles as persons who are sexually attracted to children. Most pedophiles also rape and molest children. Using a small sample survey, Human Rights Watch projects more than 7,200 minors are raped each year in India.  

There’s nothing much worse than a pedophile. While there are a many dangerous and sick types of people in the world, those who sexually assault children - pedophiles - are probably the worst of the worst.
Pedophiles are looked down on, more than other dangerous criminals because children are young, small, and vulnerable. Children need to be protected, not preyed upon. Even in prison - a place full of killers, thieves, and rapists - these hardened criminals usually beat up and even kill pedophiles.

In recent days, media has been highlighting the sensational trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of the infamous press baron Robert Maxwell who defrauded thousands of his workers of their pension funds. Ghislaine was allegedly the procurer of under-aged girls to her sexually insatiable multi-millionaire lover Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted pedophile and sexual predator. 

Epstein was accused of sex trafficking dozens of minors in New York and Florida between 2002 and 2005. He listed $559 million on his audited net worth statement. He was a registered sex offender in 2008 after admitting to buying underage girls. At the time of his death Epstein was awaiting trial on further child sex charges. He allegedly committed suicide in prison in August 2019 at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan. . . 
For reasons that are far from obvious, he had a lot of rich friends and counted among them past presidents Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak, one of the world’s richest men Bill Gates, members of the British royal family - Prince Andrew - in addition to other billionaires and millionaires. 

Many of these aging men were flown to an island owned by Epstein in his private jet known as the ‘Lolita Express’ to enjoy the charms of young underaged girls .  On 29 December last year Ghislaine was convicted on charges of recruiting and sex trafficking young girls to gratify the sexual desires of her lover as well as the rich and famous. She faces up to sixty-five years in prison. 

Victims who were trapped by Ghislaine applauded the verdict and condemned Ghislaine unequivocally.  
The question that arises however’ is this the end of the sordid story?
What of the actions of extremely wealthy men? they who shamelessly and ruthlessly exploited these vulnerable children? Aren’t their crimes even worse than those of the recruiter/pimp Ghislaine?

Left to their own devices these men will continue their nefarious activities - using more children to gratify their devious sexual appetites - believing their riches puts them beyond the law. For example Britain’s Prince Andrew is being sued by one of Ghislaine/Epstein’s victims. She charges Andrew of raping her. While still an underage child. 
While claiming to have no recollection of meeting his victim, Andrew’s defence now claims Epstein had reached a settlement with the accuser not to sue members of royalty or other influential persons whom they had, had to sexually gratify.
Their claim is that they cannot therefore be sued!

It appears our systems of justice are flawed. Whether we live in a democracy, autocracy or Marxist regime, the rich and the powerful appear to be beyond the  pale of the law. Recently a champion female athlete made a claim of having been coerced into having a relationship with a powerful political figure. The athlete suddenly disappeared and after some time reappeared claiming not to have made the charge. 
In our own country we have had the somewhat dubious distinction of seeing first-hand how the rich and powerful are beyond the reach of the law.

A few years ago the members of the opposition accused our then president Rajapaksa of massive corruption. However once in power they brought no charges against him. Similarly when the ‘Yahapalana’ regime was ruling the country, the present rulers (then opposition) charged that government with inflicting the biggest bond scam in living memory. Several persons were named. However even today the alleged scammers blithely go about their business.

To add insult to injury it is claimed, that though the international police - interpol - have been asked to extradite one of the so-called ring leaders of the scam, this gentleman happily roams the globe in complete freedom Yes indeed, the full force of the law does not seem to apply to the rich and the powerful.