AUSTRALIA / USA: GUANTÁNAMO -- HUMAN RIGHTS ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE
News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International
AI INDEX: AMR 51/143/2003
26 November 2003
Australian authorities are in the process of betraying their two nationals held in Guantánamo as well as international law. Amnesty International today commented on the Australian and US governments' agreement that any trials by military commission of Australian nationals held in the US naval base in Cuba would be "fair". The organization believes that the proposed military commissions are fundamentally flawed, including their lack of independence from the executive and the absence of the right of appeal to any court. No amount of "concessions" will bring them up to international standards for fair trials.
Governments should vigorously defend the rights of their nationals detained by other governments. At the same time governments should speak out firmly against all violations of international law, even if the violator is an ally.
"The Australian authorities should use their influence with their US counterparts to ensure compliance with, not make compromises on, international fair trial and detention standards," Amnesty International emphasized.
The UK authorities are reported to be in discussions with the US about the fate of the nine UK nationals held in Guantánamo.
Around 660 detainees from about 40 countries are still held in Cuba. The US government refuses to reveal the identities or nationalities of the prisoners who are held there in legal limbo, with no access to lawyers or to families.
For the full text of the report, please go to: "United States Of America: Guantánamo detainees: Human rights are not negotiable"
http://amnesty-news.c.tep1.com/maabH4Faa2tZObb0g9eb/
***********************************
View all documents on Australia at http://amnesty-news.c.tep1.com/maabH4Faa2tZPbb0g9eb/
View all documents on USA at http://amnesty-news.c.tep1.com/maabH4Faa2tZQbb0g9eb/
*************************************
You may repost this message onto other sources provided the main text is not altered in any way and both the header crediting Amnesty International and this footer remain intact. Only the list subscription message may be removed.
**************************