UN report calls for Guantanamo shutdown

A report from the UN has called for the closure of the United States' detention facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

Five independent investigators of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights called on the United States to "close immediately the detention centre in Guantanamo Bay and bring all detainees before an independent and competent tribunal or release them".

The UN report follows an 18-month study by experts into the state of detainees at that United States Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay.

The report's findings are based on information provided by the United States Government, interviews conducted by the experts with former Guantanamo Bay detainees, and responses from lawyers acting on behalf of some current detainees.

The experts expressed regret that the US Government did not allow them the opportunity to have free access to detainees in Guantanamo Bay to carry out private interviews, as provided by the terms of reference accepted by all countries they visit.

The report concluded that the continuing detention of all persons held at Guantanamo Bay amounts to "arbitrary detention." Where criminal proceedings are initiated against a detainee, the executive branch of the United States Government operates as judge, prosecutor and defence counsel in violation of various guarantees of the right to a fair trial.

The authors of the report were also expressed concern at attempts by the US administration to redefine "torture" in the framework of the struggle against terrorism. Interrogation techniques authorised by the US Department of Defense were described as "degrading treatment" and some cases, described in interviews, amounted to "torture."

General conditions of detention, particularly uncertainty over the length of detention and prolonged solitary confinement, amounted to "inhuman treatment."

The report recommended that the terrorism suspects should be "detained in accordance with criminal procedure that respects the safeguards enshrined in relevant international law" and called on the United States government to "bring all Guantanamo Bay detainees to trial or release them without further delay."

US authorities have largely rejected the UN report's recommendations.

No UK citizens are currently being held in Guantanamo, where around 500 detainees are being held. Although human rights lawyers acting on behalf of a number of former UK residents, understood number around nine, have welcomed the UN report.

(SP/GB)