2008 Woodie Awards
Illegal torture in Guantanamo isn't saving American lives
Erica Bodane for Amnesty International at UNCG/Special to The Carolinian
Issue date: 10/3/06 Section: Opinions
We are writing on behalf of Amnesty International, the most globally respected human rights organization. As an organization we were excited to find that Guantanamo Bay was included in the debates on September 27th. Following the debates we found ourselves to be rather disappointed with how the topic was discussed. We wish to clarify several points that we feel were overlooked and in many ways contradicted.
It was stated repeatedly that there is no such thing as international law and that there are no statutes supporting international law. There are, in fact, several. Amnesty International feels that the most important of these is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (http://www.amnestyusa.org/activist_toolkit/aboutamnesty/udhr.html), which states in several places that torture and extraordinary rendition are illegal. It was stated at the debates that Guantanamo Bay is not only legal, but is saving American lives. That is not the issue - not to mention that it is not true. According to Articles 5, 9, and 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, what is occurring at Guantanamo Bay is not in any way legal. Article 5 clearly states that "no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."
Torture is defined as physical or mental mistreatment intended to get a certain result. Most of these methods are inhumane. Methods used in Guantanamo Bay include and are definitely not limited to beatings with an electric cable, a metal chair described as a torture device which stretches the spine, being hung from hooks, beaten repeatedly, sleep deprivation, air conditioning on full blast, fingers broken or dislocated, forced nudity, food deprivation, sexual assault, solitary confinement for more than eight consecutive months, waterboarding, and denial of medical access. The Red Cross has been denied entrance to Guantanamo Bay and sanitation is such that food tubes are shoved down detainees' throats so that they cough up blood and then are used without being sterilized, on other detainees. All of these could be easily classified as torture. Torture is illegal. Article 8 of the United States Bill of Rights states that cruel and unusual punishment is illegal. Perhaps the US government feels that because the detainees at Guantanamo Bay are not US citizens, such treatment is legitimate.
It was stated repeatedly that there is no such thing as international law and that there are no statutes supporting international law. There are, in fact, several. Amnesty International feels that the most important of these is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (http://www.amnestyusa.org/activist_toolkit/aboutamnesty/udhr.html), which states in several places that torture and extraordinary rendition are illegal. It was stated at the debates that Guantanamo Bay is not only legal, but is saving American lives. That is not the issue - not to mention that it is not true. According to Articles 5, 9, and 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, what is occurring at Guantanamo Bay is not in any way legal. Article 5 clearly states that "no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."
Torture is defined as physical or mental mistreatment intended to get a certain result. Most of these methods are inhumane. Methods used in Guantanamo Bay include and are definitely not limited to beatings with an electric cable, a metal chair described as a torture device which stretches the spine, being hung from hooks, beaten repeatedly, sleep deprivation, air conditioning on full blast, fingers broken or dislocated, forced nudity, food deprivation, sexual assault, solitary confinement for more than eight consecutive months, waterboarding, and denial of medical access. The Red Cross has been denied entrance to Guantanamo Bay and sanitation is such that food tubes are shoved down detainees' throats so that they cough up blood and then are used without being sterilized, on other detainees. All of these could be easily classified as torture. Torture is illegal. Article 8 of the United States Bill of Rights states that cruel and unusual punishment is illegal. Perhaps the US government feels that because the detainees at Guantanamo Bay are not US citizens, such treatment is legitimate.
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