Bagram:
A "sally port" holds detainees before their transfer to cage cells -The credit for this photo goes to Andy Worthington - See his site here where I found the FIRST ever published photo of BAGRAM PRISON'S interior.
Three Major Concerns in this post:
1)Ex-Bagram Prisoners Report 2)Detaining Indefinitely 3)ONGOING Extraordinary Renditions
BAGRAM REPORTS:
Bagram: Where The Future of Guantanamo Meets Its Tortuous Past
THIS one just in Monday, June 29th: here Moazzam Begg
Moazzam Begg is Director for the British organisation, Cageprisoners. The opinions expressed are his own.
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Bagram Detainees Treated "Worse Than Animals" JUST In - updated here - June 27, 2009
By William Fisher
here
UN Human Rights Chief: Prosecute Bush Admin Officials who OK'd Torture
(High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay) June 25-26, 2009
As new allegations surface at Bagram, the UN’s top human rights official is calling for the release or trial of Guantanamo Bay prisoners and the prosecution of US officials who authorized their torture. On Wednesday, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said, “People who order or inflict torture cannot be exonerated, and the roles of certain lawyers, as well as doctors who have attended torture sessions, should also be scrutinized.” Pillay also criticized President Obama’s plan to continue the indefinite imprisonment of Guantanamo prisoners without charge, saying, “There should be no half-measures or new creative ways to treat people as criminals when they have not been found guilty of any crime.” Democracy Now! also See UN - Human Rights Reports
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The following are full of important points (yet admittedly the first is an opinion re. this enormous concern.)
June 27, 2009 Talk Left Memo
here
June 26, 2009 Talk Left Memo
here
Older related: Talk Left March 14, 2009
here
Much Older related: Common Dreams 2006
here
Watch for a possible Op Ed by Prof. Marjorie Cohn, President of the National Lawyers' Guild. Her commentary on such US legal/constitutional matters have been, IMO, without peer: here
EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION
"They said to me:‘Welcome to your permanent home’" ...I had gone there without any reason, without any proof, without any accusation ..." Bashmillah
Find information on one of the "bibles" if not THE bible of Extraordinary Rendition Ghost Plane by Stephen Gray here
So-called "rendition" illegal flights of the CIA, as reported by Rzeczpospo (Wikipedia)
ACLU Interviews Wife Of Rendition Victim Abou Elkassim Britel
Here's an interview with the wife of a Rendition Victim: ACLU also at Andyworthington dot co dot uk here
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(This item also addresses EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION)
INTRO note by oneheart blogger:
The following is most likely a well-intentioned statement by someone generally "on top" of these matters. Yet how interesting that even someone in this professional capacity is apparently taking it for granted that Obama's "word" US is outlawing E. Renditions - that this has been accomplished or is well on it's way? (See end of this short piece.) Actually, plenty of professional and well-informed folk are barely aware how much torture and E R is still taking place.
Actually - unlike the statement below, Europe should NOT follow the US example- because according to many who are watching these renditions around the globe the US connected renditions have NOT yet ended. If Extraordinary Renditions had or are being outlawed, then where is the evidence? This may well be just another obvious example that the US is currently (not during last administration only) still practicing war crimes?
Connie
Here's the Statement on International Day against Torture on 26 June
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Europe should follow the US example
By Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Strasbourg, 25.06.2009 - This International Day Against Torture comes three years after my recommendations to the Council of Europe member states following allegations that some of them had aided and abetted the so-called rendition flights and secret detentions in Europe. I drew attention to the need for our member states to have the power to implement their existing obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights with regard to civil and state aircraft. We must ensure that the airports and airspace of Europe are not used to transport illegally detained people to countries where they may be tortured. I also pointed to the need to ensure that international rules on diplomatic immunity are not misused. Immunity should not be a license to kidnap or torture people with impunity.
Regrettably, although three years have passed, there still has not been any meaningful response to my recommendations. In the meantime, several investigations have revealed that the European involvement in practices which violated the European Convention on Human Rights was much more widespread than initially thought. Some governments have expressed remorse, but there has been no action to close the legal and administrative gaps which allowed these violations of human rights to take place. Today, it is late, but it is not too late for the European governments to act. They should find inspiration from US President Barack Obama who outlawed rendition, secret detentions and torture during his first few days in office.
Council of Europe Directorate of Communication
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
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HREA - here
Human Rights Education Associates (HREA) is an international non-governmental organisation that supports human rights learning; the training of activists and professionals; the development of educational materials and programming; and community-building through on-line technologies.
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(Please encourage friends, groups, family and others around the US and the globe to send a short letter like the one below to The WHITE HOUSE Pronto!
Try the email box given just below and if that fails - FAX or CALL (read your letter or speak with notes) Of course, if unfamiliar with this possible move, check-out the various memos above. Consider giving the number or name of the people you represent: family members who agree with you, name of your activist or peace/justice/religious group?
A fellow- activist recommended that we craft a message which suggests or emphasizes that such a move would be unnecessary had there not been a RUIN of any opportunity for a fair trial by torturing not only the likely innocent but also the so-called "high-value,worst-of-the-worst" prisoner -thereby compromising any chance of a (reasonably fair) prosecution.
Please take action right away!
EMAIL BOX HERE
Suggested are messages such as:
I am deeply disturbed by reports tonight that President
Obama is allegedly (seriously considering)drafting an executive order authorizing indefinite detention without charge.
What about the legacy such a ruling would leave our Nation and our children? And for how long?
I completely oppose indefinite detention which is immoral, illegal and contrary to the best of American values.
Even many military and intelligence experts have said--that torture and indefinite detention without charge is an ineffective and often counterproductive way to stop terrorism.
I believe that all Guantanamo detainees should either be charged with a crime and given a fair trial in US federal court, or be released.
Thank you
Be sure to note the two updated items on DRONES below - one on GAZA and the other on Pakistan
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