MEP leads demand for Guantanamo Bay closure

1.58.16pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 13th Jun 2006

Liz Lynne MEP today welcomed the European Parliament's all-party decision to support a resolution calling for the immediate closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison camp.

The Euro-MP and member of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, who co-authored the resolution said:

"I'm delighted that the EU is speaking with one voice today in demanding that the US adheres to international law and closes this illegal detention centre."

"In addition I am calling for the US Government to grant unimpeded access to the detainees at Guantanamo Bay for the respective UN bodies and international human rights organizations. Only this week three detainees committed suicide after having spent years locked up without the right to a fair trial."

"This situation cannot continue and they must either release prisoners if they have no evidence against them or otherwise try them under international law. Anything else will be a travesty of justice."

It is estimated that there are currently 465 people of 35 different nationalities being held in the camp. A US Lawyer representing a number of the detainees has reported that they have been told, "that they have no real hope of getting out."

At the weekend, a State Department official described the three inmates suicides as a "good PR move to draw attention." Commenting on this, Liz Lynne said:

"I'm truly shocked by the insensitive remarks coming from the US government at this time. The loss of human life is always a tragedy and I am appalled at the callous response to these fatalities."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. Eight Britons have been held there since it opened in 2002. All British citizens have now been returned to the UK, but British residents with foreign passports still remain.

2. Evidence gained through torture can be used against the defendant. This goes against the Convention Against Torture.

3. A constituent of Liz Lynne's, Moazzem Begg, was released from Guantanamo Bay detention camp last year and made allegations of torture against the US authorities.

4. On 15 May, the US Pentagon released a list of 759 past and present prisoners, but it is not clear that this list is complete.

5. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provides that no-one should be subjected to arbitrary detention and that deprivation of liberty must be based on grounds and procedures established by law.