[Media-watch] US plans Guantanamo Bay killings

[Stephen McKee]

A Guardian story reports:

US military officials are making preparations for the trial and possible 
execution of captives held in Guantanamo Bay, including the construction of 
a "death chamber".

A building at the detention camp in Cuba for suspected al-Qaida members is 
being renovated to serve as a courtroom for military tribunals, signalling 
that the US is moving towards bringing charges against some of the 
prisoners.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,975668,00.html

This barbaric and disgusting act cannot go unopposed.

I have written to the US embassy, and copy this below.  Feel free to 
plagarise.  Please tell as many people as you can.

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contact:

American Embassy,
24 Grosvenor Square,
London, W1A 1AE

Phone: [44] (0)20 7894-0925
Fax: [44] (0)20 7629-8288

odclondon at state.gov

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My letter.

Dear Sir/Madam

I was shocked to read in the Guardian newspaper that 'US military officials 
are making preparations for the trial and possible execution of captives 
held in Guantanamo Bay, including the construction of a "death chamber"'.  
The status of those held there has been criticized and contested by human 
rights organizations such as Amnesty International, and to go ahead with 
plans to execute those held captive there is a direct challenge to 
international human rights.

The US believes it holds the moral high ground, but actions such as this 
call that severely into question.

In and of its own, the continued use of the death penalty by the US is a 
human rights issue.  The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and 
degrading punishment; it violates the right to life; it is irrevocable and 
can be inflicted on the innocent. It has never been proven to be an 
effective deterrent.  But to plan to use it in such controversial 
circumstances is extremely provocative. Those of us who live in countries 
that have thankfully abolished the death penalty will find these actions 
particularly chilling, and will find it hard to reconcile them with US 
claims to uphold democracy.

The US must now act by clarifying the status of the Guantanamo Bay captives, 
and confirming its plans for them.

Yours

Stephen McKee

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Guardian story

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,975668,00.html

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