England Does not Want Gitmo Detainees
kellyP | 17.10.2006 16:30 | Analysis | Anti-militarism | Anti-racism | World
Britain and other U.S. allies have demanded closure of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, but have also blocked efforts to let some prisoners return home, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.
British officials recently rejected a U.S. offer to transfer 10 former British residents from Guantanamo to the United Kingdom, arguing that it would be too expensive to keep them under surveillance, the newspaper said, citing documents made public this month in London.
Britain has also staved off a legal challenge by the relatives of some prisoners who sued to require the British government to seek their release, The Washington Post said.
While all British citizens in Guantanamo were freed starting in 2004, Britain has balked at allowing former legal residents of the country to return, the newspaper said.
Germany and other European allies, which have spoken out against Guantanamo, also have balked at accepting prisoners from the facility, the Post said.
British officials recently rejected a U.S. offer to transfer 10 former British residents from Guantanamo to the United Kingdom, arguing that it would be too expensive to keep them under surveillance, the newspaper said, citing documents made public this month in London.
Britain has also staved off a legal challenge by the relatives of some prisoners who sued to require the British government to seek their release, The Washington Post said.
While all British citizens in Guantanamo were freed starting in 2004, Britain has balked at allowing former legal residents of the country to return, the newspaper said.
Germany and other European allies, which have spoken out against Guantanamo, also have balked at accepting prisoners from the facility, the Post said.
kellyP
Additions
Court of Appeal reject of the appeal by British families
17.10.2006 16:58
12 October:
The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal launched by the families of Jamil
El-Banna, Bisher El-Rawi and Omar Deghayes to have their application for a
judicial review accepted, which would oblige the British government to make
representations on their behalf with the American government to secure their
release and return to the UK. More details:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6142525,00.html
This judgment, however, does not dispense the British government of its moral and
humanitarian responsibility towards these men and their families. Now that the
American government has stated that it is prepared to return the British residents
to this country, the onus is on the British government to act to uphold its
commitments to human rights.
The next London Guantanamo Campaign monthly meeting will be on Saturday 21st October at 1.15 - 3.15pm at the Willesden Green Library Centre (95 High Road, Willesden Green, NW10 2SF) - nearest tube: Willesden Green. (For access: http://www.brent.gov.uk/offloc.nsf/519c2f87bcd40ae78025679f0042d9e2/53ae2dcb88c76c4d802567a7004432e5!OpenDocument)
At thmeeting,
London Guantanamo Campaign
The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal launched by the families of Jamil
El-Banna, Bisher El-Rawi and Omar Deghayes to have their application for a
judicial review accepted, which would oblige the British government to make
representations on their behalf with the American government to secure their
release and return to the UK. More details:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6142525,00.html This judgment, however, does not dispense the British government of its moral and
humanitarian responsibility towards these men and their families. Now that the
American government has stated that it is prepared to return the British residents
to this country, the onus is on the British government to act to uphold its
commitments to human rights.
The next London Guantanamo Campaign monthly meeting will be on Saturday 21st October at 1.15 - 3.15pm at the Willesden Green Library Centre (95 High Road, Willesden Green, NW10 2SF) - nearest tube: Willesden Green. (For access:
http://www.brent.gov.uk/offloc.nsf/519c2f87bcd40ae78025679f0042d9e2/53ae2dcb88c76c4d802567a7004432e5!OpenDocument) At thmeeting,
London Guantanamo Campaign
London Guantanamo Campaign