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| Saturday, 19 June 2004 |
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US running global network of secret prisons: Human Rights First WASHINGTON, Friday (AFP,Reuters) The United States is holding suspects in the war on terrorism in more than two dozen detention centers around the world, at least half of which operate in total secrecy, a human rights group charged. In a report called "Ending Secret Detentions," Human Rights First said that secrecy surrounding the detention centers makes "inappropriate detention and abuse not only likely, but inevitable." "The United States government is holding prisoners in a secret system of off-shore prisons beyond the reach of adequate supervision, accountability, or law," said Deborah Pearlstein, a director of the rights group. The report listed 17 detention centers that have been officially disclosed by the government, including two in Afghanistan, 13 in Iraq, one at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and one in Charleston, South Carolina. The report labelled as "suspected" 13 other detention centers around the world that are not acknowledged officially but whose existence it said had been reported by multiple sources. Seven suspected detention centers on the list were in Afghanistan, two in Pakistan, one in the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, one in Jordan, and two aboard US amphibious assault ships. Meanwhile U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan sharply criticized the United States on Thursday for seeking another exemption from the International Criminal Court, particularly in light of the Iraqi prisoner scandal. "The blanket exemption is wrong. It is of dubious judicial value and I don't think it should be encouraged by the council," Annan told reporters. The Bush administration, for the third year, is seeking to renew a Security Council resolution that would exempt from the court's prosecution military and civilian personnel "related to a UN-authorized operation" such as that in Iraq. The immunity is extended to all nations not among the 94 countries that have ratified a treaty establishing the new court. The resolution expires by the end of the month. "It would be unfortunate for one to press for such an exemption, given the prisoner abuse in Iraq, " Annan said. "It would discredit the council and the United Nations that stands for rule of law." The United States is investigating abuse, including sexual humiliation, of prisoners by the U.S. military in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Security Council envoys say Washington does not yet have enough support or will barely reach the required nine "yes" votes needed for the resolution to pass in the 15-nation body. |
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