Obama vows to shut Guantanamo
Nils 17 November 2008, 03:31PM
President-elect Obama has confirmed to shut down Guantanamo as reported yesterday on CBS's 60 Minutes programme. "I have said repeatedly that I intend to close Guantanamo, and I will follow through on that," the president-elect said in an interview taped Friday night.
However, Obama did not elaborate on where the detainees would be taken after the closure of Guantanamo. While Amnesty International welcomes the news about the closure of Guantanamo, it remains unclear what legal status those detainees who are not released from detention obtain after the closure. At the moment, the creation of a whole new legal system to deal with the classified information inherent in some cases is under discussion. Under these circumstances, the prisoner’s right to a fair trial under the U. S. Constitution may not be guaranteed.
In the interview Obama continued: "I have said repeatedly that America doesn't torture. And I'm going to make sure that we don't torture. Those are part and parcel of an effort to regain America's moral stature in the world." Amnesty International is urging US President-elect to show true leadership by making human rights central to his new administration.
Read Amnesty International’s checklist calling on the new government to take concrete steps in its first 100 days which would show genuine commitment to bring the USA into line with its international obligations.
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This blog entry was created by Nils and does not necessarily represent the position or opinion of Amnesty International Australia.
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The Canadian Government is considering appealing a Federal Court decision that Omar Khadr - detained at Guantanamo Bay since 2002, when 15 years old - must be repatriated under Canadian law. Contact the Canadian Prime Minister now.
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Comments are submitted by members of the public and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Amnesty International Australia. If you find a comment objectionable please contact the web editor.
Isaac kananga
26 November 2008, 08:48PM
As a Democrate novice in International law,As read the president it will hapened because his kind of speaking,looking and working showing me is Firm.
Louisa
21 November 2008, 09:14AM
Unfortuantely Tony I’m not sure that will ever happen. Given as was written in the story the creation of a whole new legal system is being discussed to deal with classified information. It is unlikely, even if Guantanmo is closed down, that the detaintees will get the same measure of procedural fairness you or I or the average American is entitled too.
Tony
20 November 2008, 04:04PM
This is great news. What happens to David Hicks if the trials are found to be null by the fact that proper procedure was not followed and justice was not seen to be done. Should he get a pardon?
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