Politicians unite in call to close Guantanamo Bay
US President George W Bush today faced demands from Parliamentarians on both sides of the border to shut its controversial Guantanamo Bay detention centre.
During protests in Dublin and Belfast marking the sixth anniversary of the detentions of people in the US-run prison camp, it emerged 35 TDs and 33 Stormont Assembly members and MPs from a range of parties signed an Amnesty International petition submitted to the US administration calling for its closure.
In the Dáil, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, Greens, Sinn Féin and the Progressive Democrats signed up.
North of the border, Ulster Unionist, Sinn Féin, SDLP and Alliance MPs and MLAs as well as the Green Party’s Brian Wilson, Progressive Unionist leader Dawn Purvis and Independent Health Coalition’s Dr Kieran Deeny added their names.
Dozens of Amnesty activists today dressed up in orange boiler suits and face masks or as US detention camp guards at a lunchtime protest in Belfast’s Writers Square.
A simultaneous protest took place outside Leinster House in Dublin.
Up to 20 people attended the protest in Dublin but no politicians were present.
Government TDs Barry Andrews and Ciaran Cuffe signed the petition along with four Fianna Fáil senators and two Green Party senators.
Other signatories include high profile human rights activists Michael D Higgins, Joe Costello of Labour and Independent Finan McGrath.
Patrick Corrigan Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland programme director said the camp had had a disastrous effect on respect for human rights around the globe and must close.
“In the last six years it has become a symbol for human rights abuses in the ’war on terror’,” he said.
“Of course, governments need to combat terrorism, but this must be done using proper courts and proper justice. Guantanamo’s detainees should be given a fair trial or released to a safe country.
“Amnesty International is warning that illegal practices adopted by the US government in its ’war on terror’ – at Guantanamo and with CIA secret detentions - have led to a dangerous setting aside of fundamental human rights in the name of national security.”
Ulster Unionist MLA John McCallister was among the members of his party who signed the petition.
“Guantanamo Bay and secret detentions are a disgrace,” the South Down MLA said.
“In the face of terrorism, we must ensure that we stand squarely behind the rule of law.”
Nationalist SDLP Assembly member Alex Attwood said the policy of detention without trial had damaged the White House’s reputation across the world.
“The answer to terror is not internment or torture,” the West Belfast MLA insisted.
“Guantanamo’s closure is long overdue.”
