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British Foriegn Secretary demands the return of 5 British residents from Guantanamo |
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Campaign welcomes request for release of British Residents in Guantanamo:
Omar is coming home. Great news but too early to celebrate.
The campaign to free Omar Deghayes welcome today’s news but we expect arrangements to be made promptly for the release of the residents. Now that the UK government have finally recognised their responsibility for these men, they must act
swiftly. Omar has lost more than 5 years of his life in Guantanamo, partially due to the
UK government's lack of action. A delay such as the 11 months between requests for Bisher Al Rawi's release and his actual return to the UK would be unjustifiable. The FCO have already said they are expecting discussions with the US to take some time but we will continue campaigning to ensure that such a delay is not allowed to occur.
Paddy O'Keeffe of the Save Omar campaign stated:
"It is great news but it is too early to celebrate. We need answers to the following very practical issues. We want to know exactly when Omar will be returned and that he is coming back in safety to Brighton. We would like to know more about the timescale and the process of release for all British residents and, indeed, that all are being released. We think there is at least one not included on the list of five. Justice must not be delayed any longer. Finally, of course, Guantanamo must close."
Abubaker Deghayes, brother of Omar, stated:
"Omar is coming home. It is the news we have been waiting for. We want to thank all those people who supported my brother. I understand the Foreign Office has said there has been a change of US policy and is willing to deal with 'third' countries. This change as well as the change of heart in the British Government would not have happened without our campaign and all those people who stood with us for justice."
What about Ahmed Belbacha?
Ahmed Belbacha is not amongst the men whose return has been announced.
As far as we know, the US is still planning to return him to Algeria Mr. Belbacha previously lived in the city of Bournemouth, where he sought asylum from persecution in Algeria, by both the government and the opposition to the regime. The probability of his persecution has only been enhanced by false accusations and assumptions against him coupled with the stigma that accompanies most Guantanamo returnees're-entry into society. A U.S. federal judge indicated that she would likely have granted an order barring his refoulement (illegal return) to Algeria , based on evidence presented by his lawyers. However, under the Military Commissions Act promoted by the Bush Administration the judge felt she was powerless to prevent his forcible return to face torture. Diplomatic assurances from the Algerian government are highly unreliable given its past record of flagrant human rights violations.
Please write to the British Home and Foreign Secretaries to demand that they allow Ahmed Belbacha to return to the UK, which is a viable alternative for him.
Please state that: - Ahmed Belbacha lived in the UK peacefully for 2 ½ years.
- He has been cleared for release by the Americans and there are no charges against him. He is not deemed to pose a threat.
- The British government can take action to help a resident. A precedent lies in the return of Bisher Al-Rawi in March 2007.
- Ahmed Belbacha faces imminent danger to his life if returned to Algeria.
Please send your letters immediately to: Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith MP , Home Secretary , The Home Office, , 50 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, SW1 9AT Rt. Hon. David Miliband MP Foreign Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles St, London SW1A 2AH And please contact the State Department to protest against ant atempt to send Ahmed to Algeria and to demand compliance with the Convention Against Torture and the Refugee Convention: The Honorable Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State,, Department of State,, 2201 C Street, N.W., Washington DC 20520, USA The Honorable Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense, 1000 Defense Pentagon, Washington DC 20301 , USA Fax: +1 703 697 8339
Salutation: Dear Secretary of Defense His Excellency Mr Robert Tuttle, Embassy of the United States , 24 Grosvenor Square, London W1A 1AE. Website: http://www.usembassy.org.uk(marked for the attention of the Ambassador) |
The National Coalition