This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7455334.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Leaders urged to press president | |
(30 minutes later) | |
Northern Ireland's leaders have been urged to raise the issue of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay with President George Bush during his visit to Belfast. | Northern Ireland's leaders have been urged to raise the issue of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay with President George Bush during his visit to Belfast. |
On Sunday, Amnesty International staged a protest over rendition flights and conditions in Guantanamo. | On Sunday, Amnesty International staged a protest over rendition flights and conditions in Guantanamo. |
Up to 50 activists dressed in orange jumpsuits marched through Belfast city centre. | Up to 50 activists dressed in orange jumpsuits marched through Belfast city centre. |
One of the "detainees", Matt Sloan, said they wanted to raise awareness in Northern Ireland of the situation. | One of the "detainees", Matt Sloan, said they wanted to raise awareness in Northern Ireland of the situation. |
The Queen's University student, from Carrickfergus in County Antrim, was one of about 50 Amnesty members who dressed in orange jumpsuits to be berated by four uniformed guards as they were dragooned through the city centre. | |
The procession was led by man in a George Bush mask, who ripped up sheet of paper labelled Geneva Convention as he went. | |
"I've been aware of the Guatanamo Bay issue since after 9/11," Mr Sloan said. | |
"I hope this raises awareness of what's happening there and they close it down as well as raising awareness of torture." | |
Amnesty has also written to the first and deputy first ministers asking them to raise the issues with the president. Student Matt Sloan took part in the protest | |
Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty's Northern Ireland programme director, said people were concerned about human rights. | Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty's Northern Ireland programme director, said people were concerned about human rights. |
He wants Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness to call on President Bush to put an end to the controversial interrogation technique of waterboarding. | |
The method simulates drowning and has been condemned as torture by rights groups. | |
"Many, many people in Northern Ireland share our concern about the human rights abuses that have been committed in the name of the so-called war on terror," he said. | "Many, many people in Northern Ireland share our concern about the human rights abuses that have been committed in the name of the so-called war on terror," he said. |
"And while we know there will be various demonstrations during the president's visit on Monday we wanted to take the opportunity to highlight these very serious concerns." | "And while we know there will be various demonstrations during the president's visit on Monday we wanted to take the opportunity to highlight these very serious concerns." |
In the letter Mr Corrigan said: "There is a broad consensus that Guantanamo should close. | |
"I urge you to discuss in detail how and when the USA is intending to do this and how EU countries might be able to help." | |
The protest on Sunday gathered glances from city centre shoppers, with one passing motorist shouting: "God bless George Bush." | |
There are a variety of protests planned for the visit on Monday. Police have said they will be "actively patrolling" the Belfast area but have warned traffic disruption is likely. | |
"It is our aim to minimise as much as possible any disruption to members of the public," a spokeswoman said. |