(US) A.G. Alberto R. Gonzales Vs United Nations
The following quote was made by United States Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales at the International Institute for Strategic Studies on March the 7th 2006. (Full Transcript available here )
'Some say that in pursuing the war on terror America has failed to respect human rights and the rule of law. Nothing could be further from the truth. Dealing with captured terrorists is a difficult challenge in this very different kind of war and we are constantly working to improve our detainee policies and procedures. But the United States, together with our European allies, has always been, and remains, a great defender of human rights; and the rule of law is an essential element of all of our democracies.'
You've seen enough pictures on this blog in relation to torture, I don't think anymore need to be posted.
The following remarks are taken from the United Nations Economic and Social Council's report 'Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Civil and Political Rights: Situation of detainees at Guantanamo Bay'.
Conclusions and Recommendations
84. The persons held at Guantanamo Bay are entitled to challenge the legality of their detention before a judicial body in accordance with article 9 of ICCPR, and to obtain release if detention is found to lack a proper legal basis. This right is currently being violated...
85. The executive branch of the United States Government operates as judge, prosecutor and defence counsel of the Guantanamo Bay detainees: this constitutes serious violations of various guarantees of the right to a fair trial before an independent tribunal...
87. The interrogation techniques authorised by the Department of Defense, particularly if used simultaneously, amount to degrading treatment in violation of article 7 of ICCPR and article 16 of the Convention against Torture...
88. The excessive violence used in many cases during transportation, in operations by the Initial Reaction Forces and force-feeding of detainees on hunger strike must be assessed as amounting to torture as defined in article 1 of the Convention against Torture.
There are plenty more allegations against the United States of torture, I mean all you need to do is open up a newspaper and your sure to find something.
Gonzales went a step further during questions after his little speech as reported on Radio National Australia and here...
[Gonzales] questions the relevance of the [Geneva] Convention in today's world.
"I think it's always appropriate to look to see whether or not in this new kind of war against ... this new kind of enemy, are the conventions, are all the provisions of the conventions [relevant]."
posted by Mark @ 8:09 PM
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