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E.U.
Says U.S. Must Apply Geneva Convention to Al-Qaeda Prisoners
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| "The
Geneva Convention should apply to all people arrested in such
circumstances," says Solana |
MADRID,
Jan. 22 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The European Union said that
suspected Al-Qaeda fighters held in a U.S. naval base in Cuba should be treated
in line with the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war.
The
United States says the detainees at the Guantanamo base, who were captured in
Afghanistan, are "illegal combatants", not "prisoners of
war", and do not come under groups entitled to rights enshrined within the
Conventions.
But
E.U. foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said the prisoners should be held in
accordance with the international agreement.
"We
believe behavior towards these people is dictated by international
conventions," Solana told Spanish public television channel TVE Monday,
January 21.
"The
Geneva Convention should apply to all people arrested in such
circumstances," he said.
"Upholding
our values, our principles and our conduct is fundamental to our total battle
against fanaticism and terrorism," he added.
Despite
the Sept. 11 deadly attacks, "changing our values and our way of life would
be terrorism's first victory," he said.
The
Geneva Convention covers the physical conditions under which prisoners must be
held, and details rights and privileges they should be afforded.
These
include not facing demeaning or humiliating treatment and gives them freedom to
exercise their religious beliefs, and commits them only to offer their name,
rank and serial number under interrogation.
But
human rights groups, British deputies and the media have voiced concern about
the treatment of over 100 detainees, following the publication of photographs
showing a group of kneeling, manacled prisoners at the temporary, outdoor
detention facility.
The
picture was taken as the prisoners arrived January 11, and released over the
weekend by the U.S. Navy, CNN cable news network reported.
They
are wearing dark goggles to blot out the light, earmuffs to keep out sound,
bright orange jump suits and mittens. They are being kept in makeshift outdoor
one-man cells with concrete floors and chain-link walls.
But
a spokesman for British Prime Minister, Tony Blair - Washington's staunchest
ally in its campaign in Afghanistan - dismissed criticisms on conditions in the
camp, saying that three Britons held among the suspected Al-Qaeda fighters in
the camp had "no complaints."
"The
British had no complaints about their treatment," the spokesman added.
"They are in good physical health."
Quoting
a report by British officials who visited the men at the base, he said there was
"no sign of any mistreatment."
He
said the men had been able to speak "freely and without inhibition,"
and had asked for messages to be passed to their families, which British
officials were now doing.
He
added: "There were no gags, no goggles, no shackles while the detainees are
in their cells. They only wear shackles when they are outside."
The
detained Britons have also had contact with the Red Cross.
A
total of 144 prisoners - suspected Al-Qaeda or Taliban members - have been
transferred to the Guantanamo facility from Afghanistan since mid-January, CNN
reported.
U.S.
Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, defended Sunday, January 20, the treatment
of the detainees, saying it was unfair to suggest such "hardcore
terrorists" were being treated inhumanely.
CNN
reports that Col. Ron Williams, director of public affairs for U.S. Southern
Command, said the detainees are blindfolded, shackled and forced to wear
surgical masks only when they are moved. The measures are taken to ensure
prisoners cannot hatch a plot, or pick up information about U.S. forces simply
by watching, Williams said.
The
Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war says such captives must
be humanely treated and protected against acts of violence or intimidation.
They
must be: treated humanely with respect for their physical health and their
honor; allowed to keep their clothes and personal effects; supplied with
adequate food and clothing; provided with quarters not inferior to those of
their captor's troops.
They
must not be: compelled to give any information other than their name, age, rank
and service number; held in close confinement except for breaches of the law,
although their liberty can be restricted for security reasons.
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