Letters to the Editor, November 15, 2003

We welcome the decision by the International Red Cross Committee (ICRC) for taking a stand against the unfair preventive detention of 660 detainees at Guantánamao Bay. Indeed, this is a gross violation of human rights but seems to be consistent with the hardline policies that have emerged as a trademark of the Bush administration. This is an indictment of the American justice system as well as a breach of US Constitution, the Geneva Convention and international legal institutions prohibiting arbitrary detention. It essentially makes the US a rogue nation in international law.

The inmates, many sequestered in Camp Delta for the past two years, have been denied their indefensible right to legal counsel and visiting rights by concerned family members. Like ICRC, many respected and independent international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have issued numerous calls for President Bush to establish a legal and fair process to either prosecute or release the detainees unconditionally and immediately.

CI’s views are consistent with ICRC perception that this current indefinite process which has left the inmates in a “legal limbo” is harmful to the mental and physical health of detainees. The inmates possess “no idea about their fate and no means of legal recourse” as they are held for open-ended terms devoid of any legality. This serious analysis echoes media reports of 32 suicide attempts by detainees in the past year. We are equally disturbed by reports of extra-judicial interrogation methods relying on torture to extract forced confession from the prisoners and used as evidence against them.

We therefore demand the Bush administration provide unrestricted access for provision of humanitarian assistance by aids and rights organization. This has to precede an establishment of due process of law and legal mechanism. CI also strongly urges that the US Supreme performs its judicial functions accordingly by reviewing the US administration’s denial of the detainees’ legal rights and issue appropriate remedial measures.

Haji S. M. Mohamed Idris,

J.P Chairman Citizens International, Malaysia

George, make yourself a hero, not the hated tyrant you are now

It never fails to amaze me how Bush can stand and speak about freedom here and freedom there when in fact with the help of his ultra right hawks they are basically tearing up the American constitution by using fear tactics to get laws such as the patriot act passed.

Bush and his men are in breach of many human rights violations and still talk freedom, they have people under lock and key without the right to a lawyer and still talk freedom. I suggest that Bush look up the definition of freedom.

He preaches democracy then attacks nations because he thinks they are a threat to the USA. I wonder what he would say if the rest of the world attacked him because they think he is a threat to them.

They remove democratically elected leaders of nations such as Chile, El Salvador, and Guatemala to name a few because the USA. does not want any socialist government to be seen as a caring functional concern.

George, while you have got your dictionary, also look up democracy. I suggest that people should read books, articles by people like Noam Chomsky, john Pilger, Kenneth O'keefe Nichols and last but not not least Michael Moore. These people tell the reason behind this American aggression, but for those who do not know by now the reason is world dominance, or politely the new world order, this is not a new ideal a few more idiots have tried it before and have failed and Bush will fail also but the problem is when the world dominance ideal has failed what will be left behind?

I would like to say this to Bush and his cronies: You have enough money, you have more money than nations have, you are all getting on in years, you will not live forever and surely you don't want your children or grandchildren to be as hated as you are.

Redeem yourselves give for free money to starving and struggling nations. Build them hospitals and schools. Give them good drinking water and food. Teach them the modern techniques of farming, give them the machines and tools they require. Pay them compensation for the suffering you have caused. Say that you are sorry, and if you do all that you will still have plenty of money left. Money is not a problem for you, people you will always have plenty.

George do all the above and more. It's not too late and then and it's a maybe your maker will allow you into paradise. Remember, good people are remembered forever. Make yourself a hero, not the hated tyrant you are now. It's not too late, you can do this George.

All the best to Aljazeerah and good people of this world

John Kitson

Israel's arsenal of weapons of mass destruction

Pourquoi israel n´est pas considérée comme un danger puisqu´elle possede un arsenale nucléaire trés important! et en meme temps le pouvoire en israéle peut d´un momenet á l´autre basculer entre les mains des extremistes Juifes?

Abdelkader Talbi, Finland

Why isn't Israel considered as a danger because of possessing a very important nuclear arsenal? Also at the same time, isn't there a danger that this arsenal may fall to the hands of extremist Jews?

Abdelkader Talbi, Finland

Editor: The above was an attempt to translate your letter into English using an electronic translation, which may not be accurate.

I cannot agree more. Israelis have demonstrated that they are very dangerous, and as Europeans concluded the most dangerous threat to world peace. I think the world will be much safer if Israel is disarmed completely, particularly of its arsenal of weapons of mass destruction, nuclear, chemical, and biological.

The Ukraine 1932-1933 events

Ukraine has submitted a motion to the UN that it declared that the events of 1932-1933 be declared a Genocide. That Russia opposes the resolution is understandable; but so does the US.

For more than a decade through the late twenties and thirties, the New York Times' Moscow correspondent Walter Duranty wrote glowing accounts of Stalin and Communism. He received a Pulitzer Prize. No one even pretends that Duranty was anywhere near truthful. Not even Duranty. The Ukrainian community has tried in vain to have the prize revoked. But their pleas have fallen on the deaf ears of the Pulitzer prize committee and the Sluzburgers, owners of the NYT.

Sincerely,

Peter Lewycky

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).