Under the Bush administration, the detention center at Guantanamo Bay was opened in 2002 to hold terrorism suspects. Since then, the camp has been bombarded by many controversies especially the issue on torture and the rights of the detainees. Ten years later, the center is still open and continues to operate.
To mark the facility’s 10th anniversary last Wednesday, a coalition of human rights groups wearing orange jumpsuits and black hoods marched from the White House to the Supreme Court. The protestors wanted to represent the 171 detainees still held in Guantanamo’s detention camp, which once had 779 detainees.
Most of the protestors are affiliated to advocacy organizations such as Amnesty International USA, Center for Constitutional Rights, and Witness Against Torture. They demanded that the facility be closed. Omar Farah, one of the protestors from New York and a lawyer, said, “Most people don’t know who these people are. Part of this protest is getting their names out there, helping people to realize that it’s been 10 years for specific people.”
The protestors also condemned President Obama’s actions regarding the detention center. They were disappointed on the president’s failed efforts to close the camp. Tom Parker, policy director for terrorism for Amnesty International, said, “President Obama has failed to keep his promise. More people should be upset by this, more should be here.” The administration argued that Congress did not want to cooperate and blocked the transfer of the detainees.
On the last day of 2011, President Obama signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for year 2012. This law, which is enacted every year, specifies the budget and expenditures of the Department of Defense. This year, it contains a provision entitled “Counter Terrorism,” which deals with detentions of suspected terrorists. It states that the Congress affirms the Presidential authority for indefinite detention. This has generated controversy as to the meaning of the act and the potential abuse of power. The demonstrators worried that this will add more detainees and deny them legal rights.
President Obama initially planned to veto the bill but failed to do so. Since the military spending due date was about to expire, he signed the bill after Congress made last- minute revisions. He said, “I have signed this bill despite having serious reservations with certain provisions that regulate the detention, interrogation, and prosecution of suspected terrorists.”
Ten years after the first detainees were sent to Guantanamo, there is still no sign that the center will close.
1 comment:
I don't know very much on Guantanamo bay, but I thought that this post was interesting. For people who don't know the United States has a Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba that dates back from 1903; and since the United States broke off relations with Cuba after Fidel Castro rose to power the base became a self-enclosed outpost. As Jan stated it opened as a central prison for suspects considered to be part of the "war on terror." Personally, the tactics that are used here-sleep deprivation, shackling in stress positions and prolonged exposure to cold temperatures are by no means humane in addition to harsh interrogation, therefore I understand why there is so much controversy, and agree that something more humane should be instilled and ultimately that the camps should be closed. However in Obama's defense two days after his inauguration he signed executive orders and directed the closing of the detention camp, but was forced to reverse his orders in '11 when Congress blocked transfer of prisoners to the US for trial. In addition, Guantanamo holds a great deal of symbolic power and Republicans are consistent in their attacks against it closing- so in the end I agree with Jan that it probably won't close despite all the controversy.
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