Ten Years of Gitmo
Guantanamo Bay
The democratic world commemorates the sad event of establishing the Guantanamo Bay prison ten years ago, with hopes of seeing it closed thinner than ever, and with many inmates awaiting to at least hear what they are charged with. British Telegraph documents on this occasion the case of Shaker Aamer, who has been kept in “Gitmo” without any charge being brought against him for the last 10 years. His lawyers say he was scheduled to be released in 2007, but he is still there five years after.
The man is said to have been subjected to horrible torture, which is actually the case with many prisoners in there, and that it took a dramatic toll on his state of mind.
One of his lawyers, who had a chance to visit his client last November, said he may die in there before finding out what are the charges against him. British newspaper The Independent claims that the British government spent some 300,000 pounds to cover up evidence about Aamer, so that his lawyers may not see them in order to mount a defense. His lawyers believe that that evidence could prove their client’s innocence.
Another lawyer said that Aamer was being kept in a facility where inmates were subjected to inhumane treatments in breach of the Geneva prisoner treatment agreements.
Aamer is the last Briton to be held in the Guantanamo Bay prison, and his case has been brought to the attention of US State Secretary Hillary Clinton. The decision to release him lies in the end with the American authorities.
Former detainee Moazzam Begg was released from Guantanamo after two years spent in the camp, with no charges brought against him.
Suleiman al-Nadhi was arrested ten years ago and has been waiting to be released for the last five, after being cleared for release. In a letter to his lawyer, he expresses his doubt that he would ever be released.
No inmate has been released in the last few years, in spite of the fact that indefinite military detention is not comprised in American law.
The Guantanamo Bay facilities were created as a means to elude the American legislation which clearly states that no one can be tortured on the American territory. The whole thing started in January 2002, when the first suspects were brought to Guantanamo at a military base, following the events which came to be known as 9/11, that is the attack on the New York City’s Twin Towers and on the Pentagon building. 9/11 caused thousands of American deaths and triggered an anti-terror war.
In May 2002 there were some 680 prisons in Gitmo, and by October the Red Cross issued a warning about the deterioration of their state of mind.
In July 2004 they were dubbed “enemy combatant” in order to circumvent the court ruling that was demanding the trial of these people on American soil. In May 2005, the desecration of the Muslim holy book, the Quran, brings about riots and demonstrations all over the world, and next year the first UN report that recommends the closing of the facility is issued.
In May 2006 Pentagon reports that 75 prisoners went on hunger strike, and in June the same year the Supreme Court rules that the trial system invented by Bush administration was in violation of the US and international law.
In October 2006, Bush devices a new trial system, and in March 2007 an Australian detainee pleads guilty to the charge of material support for terrorism. In June 2008, five men held in connection to 9/11 are accused in Guantanamo.
In June 2008, the Supreme Court rules that the detainees have a right to challenge their incarceration in US Federal Courts. In October 2008 17 Chinese Muslims are released.
In January 2009, the US officials admit to having tortured Mohammed al-Qathani, the first admission to such practices in the Guantanamo Bay prison. The same month the American president Barack Obama attempts to close down the facility and to ban some interrogation methods.
In June 2009 a prisoner is found dead in Guantanamo, while in July the presidential review of the detention practices is being delayed by six months.
On January 7, 2011, Barack Obama signs into law the 2011 Defense Authorization Bill, which prevents the closure of Guantanamo Bay facility and the transfer of the prisoners. Three more prisoners die in prison this year.
In December 2011, 2012 National Defense Bill passes without the president Obama vetoing it. The new law practically makes official the holding of prisoners indefinitely in Guantanamo without charges and the denial of prisoner transfer.
The tenth anniversary of this facility is expected to bring people in the streets of London and Washington, while the prisoners will organize sits-in and will refuse the food. By that, their lawyers say, they want to send a message that they are refusing the injustice they are being submitted to.
Navy announced that the prisoners have already made public their intention to organize peaceful protests, and added that they are not uncommon.
Human rights activists criticize Obama’s administration for failing to stand up to Congress and close the facility down, as promised. Furthermore, the administration came under criticism for allowing the tribunal to be held there, in the facility.
The White House reaffirmed their commitment to closing the facility, and said that the president has not changed his mind, only that the process is more complicated than that.
There are 171 prisoners in Guantanamo now, 36 of them awaiting trial on war crime charges, 46 being in indefinite detention because they are considered dangerous for the United States, 32 whom the US wants to release but hasn’t yet because of restrictions, and 57 Yemenis held on the consideration that their country is not stable.
