ACTION TO MARK the SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF GUANTÁNAMO BAY (11 January 2008)

11 January 2008 marks the sixth anniversary of the opening of the American prison camp in Guantánamo Bay on 11 January 2002. Over the past six years, over 800 detainees have passed through its gates – all hooded, shackled and transferred from other illegal American detention and torture camps elsewhere in the world. While originally touted as a detention and interrogation centre for “enemy combatants”, it was subsequently established that the majority of detainees were kidnapped and sold to the American military for a ransom of $5000; many were kidnapped in Pakistan and had never entered Afghanistan, let alone engage against the Americans. Denying international legal protection to detainees and through the practice of torture and arbitrary detention, the American military regime at Guantánamo Bay and other secret jails around the world has consistently made a mockery of human rights and humanity. Of the over 800 detainees held there, only one has ever been convicted and less than a dozen charged (including two minors).

Nine British nationals were held at Guantánamo Bay but had all been released by January 2005. Nine British residents (non-nationals with close links to the UK ) have also been held there; two have since been returned to their countries of origin and one to the UK . The return of five further men to the UK is currently being negotiated between the UK and US governments. One further detainee, an Algerian national, has been excluded from these negotiations and faces the possibility of an uncertain and dangerous future in Algeria if returned there.

Despite statements to the effect that Guantánamo Bay will close down over the last few years, this is no closer to becoming a reality. Several dozen detainees have been on hunger strike for almost a year and are being force fed by having tubes forced by their noses daily. Over the past three years, 4 detainees have died in dubious circumstances that have never been investigated.

The London Guantánamo Campaign is planning a day of action on the sixth anniversary to mark this date: Friday 11 January 2008.

The current proposed action will consist of a number of people, wearing the orange jumpsuits symbolic of the Guantánamo detainees and its regime of injustice and torture and black hoods over their faces, posing as “human statues” at various times of the day at various landmarks and places all over London; each “sighting” is to represent one of the prisoners currently being held at Guantánamo Bay, of which there are likely to be around 250- 280 in January 2008. Each “human statue” will be accompanied by several other people handing out leaflets about the regime of torture, arbitrary detention, rendition, “disappearances” and other human rights abuses in the war on terror over the past six years at Guantánamo and beyond. The day’s events will culminate in a larger action in the evening.
Proposed places to hold the action include mainline railway stations, tourist attractions, areas where the British residents in Guantánamo live, etc.

Your assistance as an individual/organisation either in the planning or execution of this action is most welcome – can you help publicise this event? Raise local awareness about the sixth anniversary? Pose as a statue on the day? Are you available for a part of that day (especially if you are still on university/college holidays) to join us?

If you do not live in London and wish to hold a similar local event, please let us know.

For further information, please contact 07809 757 176 or email  london_gitmo@yahoo.co.uk