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| End the impasse over Guantánamo | End the impasse over Guantánamo |
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| I couldn't agree more that Guantánamo is an "indelible stain" on the US's already much-dented reputation for upholding human rights (Editorial, 1 May). It's worrying that it's taken a mass hunger strike to put the issue back on President Obama's agenda. On the other hand, new political urgency is welcome and it must now result in a fair resolution of all the 166 detainees' cases – not just those long since cleared for transfer by the US authorities, but also those of the 48 detainees shockingly being held indefinitely. The UK should play its part, supporting moves to end the impasse. It's deeply troubling that the US-UK negotiations over the release of the former UK resident Shaker Aamer are still to bear fruit. | I couldn't agree more that Guantánamo is an "indelible stain" on the US's already much-dented reputation for upholding human rights (Editorial, 1 May). It's worrying that it's taken a mass hunger strike to put the issue back on President Obama's agenda. On the other hand, new political urgency is welcome and it must now result in a fair resolution of all the 166 detainees' cases – not just those long since cleared for transfer by the US authorities, but also those of the 48 detainees shockingly being held indefinitely. The UK should play its part, supporting moves to end the impasse. It's deeply troubling that the US-UK negotiations over the release of the former UK resident Shaker Aamer are still to bear fruit. |
| Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt recently pushed back MPs' questions on these talks by repeatedly saying they were confidential. Years of secret dealings between the US and Britain in the "war on terror" have already done considerable damage to both countries' reputations and numerous individuals' lives. Mr Aamer must not become another victim of this secretive relationship. Kate Allen Director, Amnesty International UK | Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt recently pushed back MPs' questions on these talks by repeatedly saying they were confidential. Years of secret dealings between the US and Britain in the "war on terror" have already done considerable damage to both countries' reputations and numerous individuals' lives. Mr Aamer must not become another victim of this secretive relationship. Kate Allen Director, Amnesty International UK |
| • The hunger strike is clearly rattling cages. But this is not the first time we've heard such rhetoric from President Obama. His actions speak a different language. Authorising the use of force against hunger strikers and closing the office set up to work to close Guantánamo contradict that rhetoric. The US must act to remedy the indefinite detention almost wholly without charge or trial of 166 men. America's allies, such as the UK, must play their role too. The prime minister must demand the return of British resident Shaker Aamer to his family and ask why the US is blocking his return. The states other prisoners are from must also make sustained efforts. The US and its allies will find that complying with the rule of law and recognised legal principles are in the best interests of all. Aisha Maniar London Guantánamo Campaign | • The hunger strike is clearly rattling cages. But this is not the first time we've heard such rhetoric from President Obama. His actions speak a different language. Authorising the use of force against hunger strikers and closing the office set up to work to close Guantánamo contradict that rhetoric. The US must act to remedy the indefinite detention almost wholly without charge or trial of 166 men. America's allies, such as the UK, must play their role too. The prime minister must demand the return of British resident Shaker Aamer to his family and ask why the US is blocking his return. The states other prisoners are from must also make sustained efforts. The US and its allies will find that complying with the rule of law and recognised legal principles are in the best interests of all. Aisha Maniar London Guantánamo Campaign |
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