Comments on: Guantanamo Bay http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/15/352 Every day the Prime Minister's Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as 'the lobby' for a topical chat, or 'briefing'. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:53:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: dikkie http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/15/352#comment-474 dikkie Wed, 17 Mar 2004 12:03:15 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/15/352#comment-474 is david blunket mad? we have a prime minister who keeps going on about democracy and a home secretery who spews out draconian rhetoric known only in the worst dictatorships. I may leave the country is david blunket mad?
we have a prime minister who keeps going on about democracy and a home secretery who spews out draconian rhetoric known only in the worst dictatorships.

I may leave the country

]]> By: Chris Lightfoot http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/15/352#comment-456 Chris Lightfoot Tue, 16 Mar 2004 09:23:22 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/15/352#comment-456 Geoff-- probably not. After all, in the case you identify, the victims had the chance to prove their innocence; the living expenses were deducted from the compensation which they quite properly received. The Guantanamo Bay detainees were interned without trial for two years and not even charged with any crime. So far there seems little prospect of them receiving compensation for their treatment. Geoff– probably not. After all, in the case you identify, the victims had the chance to prove their innocence; the living expenses were deducted from the compensation which they quite properly received. The Guantanamo Bay detainees were interned without trial for two years and not even charged with any crime. So far there seems little prospect of them receiving compensation for their treatment.

]]> By: Geoff http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/15/352#comment-454 Geoff Mon, 15 Mar 2004 22:59:20 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/15/352#comment-454 Question is will the British or US governments be charging them for their living expenses whilst incarcerated as they are with all the other people locked up when innocent . Full story here http://www.sundayherald.com/40592 Question is will the British or US governments be charging them for their living expenses whilst incarcerated as they are with all the other people locked up when innocent . Full story here http://www.sundayherald.com/40592

]]> By: Red Robbo http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/15/352#comment-449 Red Robbo Mon, 15 Mar 2004 17:45:10 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/15/352#comment-449 Now there is a precedent for Tony the lawyer to think about. Now there is a precedent for Tony the lawyer to think about.

]]> By: David Boothroyd http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/15/352#comment-448 David Boothroyd Mon, 15 Mar 2004 17:36:10 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/15/352#comment-448 The US is not a party to the International Court and so whatever happened in Guantanamo Bay, the former detainees can't take a case there. Any allegations of mistreatment are a matter for the US authorities anyway. I really don't know why anyone would say that the UK government should do anything. However, it's not new for British citizens detained overseas to expect the British authorities to pay them compensation. This was the demand (in connection with his detention in Russia from 1804-1809) which propelled John Bellingham to assassinate Spencer Perceval in 1812. The US is not a party to the International Court and so whatever happened in Guantanamo Bay, the former detainees can’t take a case there. Any allegations of mistreatment are a matter for the US authorities anyway. I really don’t know why anyone would say that the UK government should do anything. However, it’s not new for British citizens detained overseas to expect the British authorities to pay them compensation. This was the demand (in connection with his detention in Russia from 1804-1809) which propelled John Bellingham to assassinate Spencer Perceval in 1812.

]]> By: Lee Bryant http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/15/352#comment-444 Lee Bryant Mon, 15 Mar 2004 17:09:27 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/15/352#comment-444 This is sickening - their own citizens have been held without trial for 2 years and allege mistreatment, and all they can say is that they should have raised it earlier. Don't forget these individuals were also witnesses to US involvement in the Northern Alliance massacres. Regardless of their folly in travelling through Afghanistan at the time of the US/UK attack, it is beyond belief that the government washes its hands of them in this way. If we are committed to the International Court and the war crimes process in the Hague then why should we not take seriously and (at least) investigate their allegations. If witnesses or victims of mistreatment were shunned like this in any other context we would all be rightly appalled. This is sickening - their own citizens have been held without trial for 2 years and allege mistreatment, and all they can say is that they should have raised it earlier. Don’t forget these individuals were also witnesses to US involvement in the Northern Alliance massacres. Regardless of their folly in travelling through Afghanistan at the time of the US/UK attack, it is beyond belief that the government washes its hands of them in this way.

If we are committed to the International Court and the war crimes process in the Hague then why should we not take seriously and (at least) investigate their allegations. If witnesses or victims of mistreatment were shunned like this in any other context we would all be rightly appalled.

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