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Why we are hunger-striking in solidarity with Guantánamo's detainees Why we are hunger-striking in solidarity with Guantánamo's detainees
(2 months later)
Who would think that the 9,900 people in the small Suffolk town of Mildenhall in England could support so many restaurants? As I walked 200 yards back to the car from doing some banking for my elderly mother, I passed Sumo Sushi, En-Thai-Sing, Wong's Chinese, the Indian Spice Lounge, the Cadillac Steak House, and no fewer than four pizza joints – not to mention half a dozen pubs boasting food.Who would think that the 9,900 people in the small Suffolk town of Mildenhall in England could support so many restaurants? As I walked 200 yards back to the car from doing some banking for my elderly mother, I passed Sumo Sushi, En-Thai-Sing, Wong's Chinese, the Indian Spice Lounge, the Cadillac Steak House, and no fewer than four pizza joints – not to mention half a dozen pubs boasting food.
Frankly, this was the last thing I wanted to see. So far, I have gone just 48 hours without eating – on a hunger strike in solidarity with my clients in Guantánamo Bay. It's a pretty trivial commitment compared to what they have done: for example, Shaker Aamer, the last British resident there, is on the 146th day of his strike.Frankly, this was the last thing I wanted to see. So far, I have gone just 48 hours without eating – on a hunger strike in solidarity with my clients in Guantánamo Bay. It's a pretty trivial commitment compared to what they have done: for example, Shaker Aamer, the last British resident there, is on the 146th day of his strike.
After five months, the Miami Herald reported this week that the number of prisoners officially labelled as strikers dropped for the first time – down from 106 to 104. The Guantánamo authorities may view this as a small victory in their effort to repress a peaceful protest. Nevertheless, the continuing strikers represent almost two-thirds of the 166 prisoners, and even that figure masks some brutal facts: 45 are still being force-fed through a tube, in much the same way as was dramatized earlier in the week by Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) in the video on the Guardian website. Three detainees have been hospitalised.After five months, the Miami Herald reported this week that the number of prisoners officially labelled as strikers dropped for the first time – down from 106 to 104. The Guantánamo authorities may view this as a small victory in their effort to repress a peaceful protest. Nevertheless, the continuing strikers represent almost two-thirds of the 166 prisoners, and even that figure masks some brutal facts: 45 are still being force-fed through a tube, in much the same way as was dramatized earlier in the week by Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) in the video on the Guardian website. Three detainees have been hospitalised.
Furthermore, I know from my recent conversations with the 17 remaining Reprieve clients that there is not a single detainee who does not wholeheartedly support the ultimate goal of their brethren: that those who have long since been cleared for release (86 individuals, or 52% of the total) should finally be set free; and that the other 80 should receive due process of law.Furthermore, I know from my recent conversations with the 17 remaining Reprieve clients that there is not a single detainee who does not wholeheartedly support the ultimate goal of their brethren: that those who have long since been cleared for release (86 individuals, or 52% of the total) should finally be set free; and that the other 80 should receive due process of law.
Certainly, the detainees are a long way from surrender. I doubt they will ever give up, as there are few alternative actions they can take. But it is very hard for some individuals to take part at all or, if they have persisted for five months, to continue. One of our Reprieve clients is 65 with a heart condition, so he should not be doing this kind of thing; another got so depressed that he attempted suicide.Certainly, the detainees are a long way from surrender. I doubt they will ever give up, as there are few alternative actions they can take. But it is very hard for some individuals to take part at all or, if they have persisted for five months, to continue. One of our Reprieve clients is 65 with a heart condition, so he should not be doing this kind of thing; another got so depressed that he attempted suicide.
So, in the wake of Mos Def's courageous effort, our idea was to adopt a hunger strike: I would start, since it was my idea, and we should never ask of others what we will not do ourselves. But various celebrities have agreed to take over from me when I fail – first, the comedian Frankie Boyle, then Massive Attack's frontman Rob DelNaja. Perhaps then others. And I am proud that, to date, people – anyone, just people who give a damn – have volunteered a total of around three years' worth of fasting in solidarity.So, in the wake of Mos Def's courageous effort, our idea was to adopt a hunger strike: I would start, since it was my idea, and we should never ask of others what we will not do ourselves. But various celebrities have agreed to take over from me when I fail – first, the comedian Frankie Boyle, then Massive Attack's frontman Rob DelNaja. Perhaps then others. And I am proud that, to date, people – anyone, just people who give a damn – have volunteered a total of around three years' worth of fasting in solidarity.
How long will I last? I don't know. I don't plan to do myself harm, as I have a five-year-old child to think of. I hope I will go several days. I'm not sure I have ever gone 48 hours without eating before; thus far, it has been instructive. It's not been too bad, but Shaker told me that the next couple of days may be the worst – before one's stomach shrinks and the pangs of hunger perhaps decrease.How long will I last? I don't know. I don't plan to do myself harm, as I have a five-year-old child to think of. I hope I will go several days. I'm not sure I have ever gone 48 hours without eating before; thus far, it has been instructive. It's not been too bad, but Shaker told me that the next couple of days may be the worst – before one's stomach shrinks and the pangs of hunger perhaps decrease.
I wondered to myself today about the smell of food: it was that marvellous odour of recently toasted bread when I went to visit Doug Longmuir, an old friend going back many years. Then, it was the bakery in Mildenhall, hedged in by a full range of restaurants. Despite it all, I found that my envy was very mild.I wondered to myself today about the smell of food: it was that marvellous odour of recently toasted bread when I went to visit Doug Longmuir, an old friend going back many years. Then, it was the bakery in Mildenhall, hedged in by a full range of restaurants. Despite it all, I found that my envy was very mild.
But it brought to mind what Shaker told me: the authorities have had a policy in Guantánamo of delivering a polystyrene clamshell of food to the hunger strikers every day in the morning, and leaving it in the cell until the evening meal. Of all the cruelties of that nefarious prison (and there have been many), that is perhaps the most calculated: imagine sitting in a cement cube for 12 hours, after weeks without eating, face to face with food, trying to resist.But it brought to mind what Shaker told me: the authorities have had a policy in Guantánamo of delivering a polystyrene clamshell of food to the hunger strikers every day in the morning, and leaving it in the cell until the evening meal. Of all the cruelties of that nefarious prison (and there have been many), that is perhaps the most calculated: imagine sitting in a cement cube for 12 hours, after weeks without eating, face to face with food, trying to resist.
But the strategy has been fairly futile. On my 28 visits to Guantánamo, I have watched the US navy's cuisine being delivered to my clients for the last nine years: it smells vile, tastes worse, and is generally cold by the time it arrives. My own experience has been that cold food that lacks any aroma barely incites me to hunger.But the strategy has been fairly futile. On my 28 visits to Guantánamo, I have watched the US navy's cuisine being delivered to my clients for the last nine years: it smells vile, tastes worse, and is generally cold by the time it arrives. My own experience has been that cold food that lacks any aroma barely incites me to hunger.
Some critics say that our own gesture in joining the strike is also futile. I hope that is not so. For the first time in many months, Guantánamo is back in the headlines. For the first time in three years, President Obama is being reminded of his promise – the first commitment he made after becoming president in 2008 – to close the prison.Some critics say that our own gesture in joining the strike is also futile. I hope that is not so. For the first time in many months, Guantánamo is back in the headlines. For the first time in three years, President Obama is being reminded of his promise – the first commitment he made after becoming president in 2008 – to close the prison.
Let us hope that our fast can contribute in some small way, in Shaker's words, to bringing justice back, even if justice has been woefully slow in coming.Let us hope that our fast can contribute in some small way, in Shaker's words, to bringing justice back, even if justice has been woefully slow in coming.
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