New Amnesty International Report Reveals that Former Guantanamo Detainees'

[Judi Lynn]

New Amnesty International Report Reveals that Former Guantanamo Detainees' Lives Are Ruined; 'No Longer Enemy Combatant' Label Does Not End Suffering

WASHINGTON - February 6 - In a new report, Guantanamo: Lives Torn Apart, published today, Amnesty International exposes the impact of detention in the Guantanamo Bay detention center on detainees and their families; thousands are being condemned to a life of emotional and physical suffering and torment.

The report contains testimonies from former detainees and their relatives revealing how once a person is picked up and labeled an 'enemy combatant' by the United States, his life becomes one of constant torment and stigma. This terror does not end when the man is released and sent back to his home country. Many former detainees, even when reunited with their families, continue to be harassed, arbitrarily arrested and ill-treated by their own government.

"Absolutely outrageous," said Dr. William F. Schulz, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA. "If someone is no longer considered an 'enemy combatant,' either he was erroneously detained in the first place or he has undergone a miraculous conversion. In either case, he will never be free from the stigma of being labeled a "terrorist." Moreover, the lives of the detainees' families frequently spiral down into financial and emotional devastation. The denial of due process we have witnessed at Guantanamo Bay violates fundamental human rights law, to say nothing of our highest values as a nation."

There are approximately 500 men from 35 countries detained in Guantanamo, and only a couple of them have had a review of their detention in a court of law. In addition, at least nine men continue to be held in Guantanamo despite no longer being labeled as "enemy combatants" by the U.S. government. The report also provides a timely account of those who continue to be imprisoned at Guantanamo, including developments in relation to the ongoing hunger strike and suicide attempts.
(snip/...)

http://www.commondreams.org/news2006/0206-01.htm

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. :^(

[CJCRANE]

2. Amnesty link:

http://www.amnesty.org/

[Tempest]

3. There's a high rate of suicides by prisoners who were released

I believe it's from an earlier AI report.

[Judi Lynn]

4. It's painful to hear that. Didn't know. Thanks for the info. n/t

[DELUSIONAL]

5. What about the children being held there?

Depending on the age -- the children's personalities aren't yet formed (or hardened as an adult personality). We already know that horrendous harm done to children who survived the holocaust. We just don't know all of the details of how these children were treated -- and why they have had this long separation from their friends and family.

If there is a god -- then s/he would consider the treatment of these individuals as a sin -- an unpardonable sin.

[rodeodance]

6. their life course is bleek.