How I entered the hellish world of Guantanamo Bay

[Tinoire]

How I entered the hellish world of Guantanamo Bay

Martin Mubanga went on holiday to Zambia, but ended up spending 33 months in Guantanamo Bay, some of the time in the feared Camp Echo. Free at last and still protesting his innocence, he tells the full story to David Rose

Sunday February 6, 2005
The Observer

Martin Mubanga can date the low point of his 33 months at Guantánamo Bay: 15 June, 2004. That sweltering Cuban morning, he was taken from the cellblock he was sharing with speakers of the Afghan language Pashto, none of whom knew English, for what had become his almost daily interrogation. As usual, his hands were shackled in rigid, metal cuffs attached to a body belt; another set of chains ran to his ankles, severely restricting his ability to move his legs. Trussed in this fashion, he was lying on the interrogation booth floor. The seemingly interminable questioning had already lasted for hours. 'I needed the toilet,' Mubanga said, 'and I asked the interrogator to let me go. But he just said, "you'll go when I say so". I told him he had five minutes to get me to the toilet or I was going to go on the floor. He left the room. Finally, I squirmed across the floor and did it in the corner, trying to minimise the mess. I suppose he was watching through a one-way mirror or the CCTV camera. He comes back with a mop and dips it in the pool of urine. Then he starts covering me with my own waste, like he's using a big paintbrush, working methodically, beginning with my feet and ankles and working his way up my legs. All the while he's racially abusing me, cussing me: "Oh, the poor little negro, the poor little nigger." He seemed to think it was funny.'

(snip)

For many months after Mubanga was seized in Zambia with the help of British intelligence and sent to Guantánamo, the American authorities maintained that he was a dangerous 'enemy combatant', an undercover al-Qaeda operative who had travelled from Afghanistan on a false passport and appeared to be on a mission to reconnoitre Jewish organisations in New York. But documents obtained by The Observer now reveal that by the end of last October the Pentagon's own legal staff had grave doubts about his status, and had overturned a ruling that he was a terrorist by Guantánamo's Combatant Status Review Tribunal.

Like the other three men who were released last month, Moazzam Begg, Feroz Abbasi and Richard Belmar, Mubanga was held for one night at Paddington Green police station on his return to Britain and questioned. He was released unconditionally, the police having concluded within just a few hours that there was no evidence to sustain charges of terrorism.

(snip)

After three weeks of these sessions, the American told him one morning: 'I'm sorry to have to tell you this, as I think you're a decent guy, but in 10 or 15 minutes we're going to the airport and they're taking you to Guantánamo Bay.' Mubanga knew what this meant. 'Like everyone else I'd seen the pictures of the prisoners in their goggles and jumpsuits, kneeling in chains in the dust. They took me to a military airstrip, stripped me, did an anal search and then put me in a big nappy which they seemed to think was funny. They put on the blindfold, the hood and the earmuffs and chained me to a bed in the plane. We stopped somewhere, but in all the flight took about 24 hours.'

(snip)

Mubanga began to suffer still harsher conditions. In the terse, military abbreviations of Guantánamo, he was put repeatedly on 'Cl' (comfort item) loss, so that books, his cup, board games and anything else which might help pass the time were removed. Later, he endured 'BI (basic item) loss', when his thin mattress, trousers, shirts, towel, blankets, and flipflops were also taken away, leaving him naked except for boxer shorts in an empty metal box. 'You had to be calm, bottle up any anger you might feel, show you were prepared to be docile. If you did that, slowly you'd get your items back: first your flipflops, the next day your mattress, the next day your trousers, after that your blanket and shirts.'

(snip)

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1407007,00.html

"it's open season for the American government."

[Matriot]

1. Complain to the UN

http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/detention/contact.htm

[Disturbed]

3. No charges and tortured for all that time!

This is dispicable. The U.S. Govt. and the Military should be on trial with actual charges for their actions at Gitmo and other prisons.

[DELUSIONAL]

19. don't you understand -- We went to Iraq to shut down the rape rooms

It seems to me that the US military has been turned into a monster by the civilians.

I also find it interesting that in order to "fight" terrorism bush has turned certain segments of the military into terrorists and terrorists GENERATORS. If the individuals weren't terrorists before their torture -- they are certainly being given plenty of reasons to hate the US.

If the dark side of human nature can be unbottled this easily on "non-Americans" -- it won't take much to turn these Frankenstein monsters on American citizens.

When will American citizens who protest bush or didn't vote for bush -- or who merely post the fact that they really are disgusted by the bushie regime -- be carted off and tortured -- when will disgust for dictator bush be called a terrorist thought crime? When will the no-fly list be turned into a missing person list?

[d.l.Green]

22. You got it- the government is looking to prove their own point- that

these people, no matter what they were before, may prove to ultimately be terrorists. Just reading this filth makes me on the verge- disgusting!

[Supersedeas]

20. Dispicable....that's the most appropriate word here.

[JohnLocke]

2. Oh, Jeez.

I weep for my country. What have we become?

[Tinoire]

5. I just don't know either

It's horrible. That article mentioned that there are over 10,000 prisoners at Guantanamo. Imagine that... over 10,000. It's heart-breaking.

[yardwork]

4. Something needs to be done about this.

This is illegal under international law. If we can't stop it here in the U.S., then the world community needs to step in and put a stop to it. I mean that with all respect.

[merh]

6. What is so sad is there are thousands upon thousands of folks

that don't see anything wrong with this treatment. :cry:

I want my nation back! :cry:

[Stuckinthebush]

7. All in my name...

The bastards.

[toymachines]

9. my god, shit is really getting worse than i thought

sure i knew bush was on track with hitlers game plan, but this is really starting to scare me.

[Minstrel Boy]

8. And some will spend the rest of their lives there,

according to the Pentagon.

[proudbluestater]

Yes, indeed you are right. They are currently building a PERMANENT

facility there.

As I have read, MOST of the people being detained -- imprisoned, have NOTHING to do with 9/11, terrorism, or anything. They were simply plucked from various places and incarcerated. They have not been given access to lawyers, to trials, to even the knowledge of what they are being held for! Outrageous to do this in OUR name!
From what I have read, when they are provided with "lawyers" they are not really lawyers at all. Also, the "tribunals" are not real courtrooms and the "judges" that decide the fate of those held are not real "judges." It's a big freaking set up to save face for the administration.

Below is a group that is helping. They have secured the release of those mentioned in the article.

http://www.ccr-ny.org/v2/home.asp

That's the Center for Constitutional Rights in NYC. They are also the ones who filed suit in Germany for war crime charges to be brought against Rumsfeld, Gonzalez and others. THEY are the reason Rumsfeld is afraid to attend a conference in Germany coming up soon.

I swear to you all, not a DAY goes by that I don't feel for these people being held illegally. Now that the Senate has confirmed the torturer in chief, what kind of message does that send to the prisoners and the rest of the world?

How have we come SO far in so short a time?

My young daughter asked me yesterday, "which Bush did you like best as president" and it was stunning to realize how FAR we have fallen. I didn't particulary care for George HW Bush, but he did NO harm. The current Bush is RUINING this country.

[Starlight]

28. Keep in mind that corporations are *making money* on the prisoners

being kept there. Building prisons, providing food & supplise... Don't think they'll give this up easily, regardless of the inmates' innocence.

[Mr Rabble]

10. loss for words

How is this even possible?

[Old Mouse]

11. You better take this as warning

this the potential future for us at DU

[proudbluestater]

14. Old Mouse, people here think you are joking, but what you say is true.

We are being watched. I'm even being "noticed" by local law enforcement when I stop at my local 7-11 on my way to work.

Whoever thought "Homeland Security" with its 180,000 employees was JUST going to work on "terrorism" from the outside was mistaken. DHS is mainly looking WITHIN its own borders for "dissidents." If this were not true, wouldn't we by NOW be inspecting all shipments into this country? We are not. But we sure know the folks who don't agree with the regime's policies. Maybe I've scared them with my DU bumper sticker? hahaha. AS IF. Anybody planning to overthrow this disgusting excuse for a government is not about to put a bumper sticker on their car. Fools!

[anarchy1999]

12. What can anyone of us really say? We've known it all along.

Just plain damned sick, cruel, criminal treatment. It just makes me want to cry. DAMN!

[JohnnyRingo]

13. Growing up in McCarthy era America...

...My teachers had similar descriptions of Iron Curtain Countries.

I never thought I'd live to see it here.

[not systems]

15. What could make up for this?

This is one crime among thousands yet what
could be done except the eventual arrest and
trial of the perpetrators.

Unfortunately they gain more of a grip on power day by day.

[lala_rawraw]

16. This is done in our name...

And history will remember us the way it does Nazi Germany... it will say of us "they knew and did nothing" or "they could have stopped it" and to me, the most horrific part is not only my own real inability to stop this, but also the knowledge that it is being done in my name. I am sick with this. I really, no joke, have had nightmares non-stop about this. I have nightmares with people screaming and I am riding an elevator to get to them, but I keep getting off on the wrong floor. I wake up sweating. Or I have this one where all my teeth keep falling out every time I try to say something about this.

I have written everyone and their mother. I have written about this topic. I have printed these stories, copied them, and left them everywhere I go. I don't know, honestly, what else to do. I just know that history will not remember each one of us and what we did; it will remember only the actions. We are all accountable and yet I don't know what else to do.

[CoffeeCat]

18. I also share your outrage and your despair...

I understand exactly what you are saying.

I also have nightmares about Gitmo, and trying to help people escape.

I can't even believe the place exists. I can't believe America would tolerate this. We have no business having a prison that is geographically sequestered the way it is. It's an invitation for the precursors of concentration camps!

It reminds me of "Lord of the Flies." Isolation breeds abuse and evil.

I don't know what to do either.

What is wrong with most of the people in this country? They seem to be anesthetized! Are we too busy? Too fat? Too drugged up on anti-depressants? What is it about us that allows this to happen?

I fear, not U.S. leaders--but those who will retaliate against the our country for the things we are doing.

[kypper]

25. When shit hits the fan....

You'll know what to do.

Arabs are being tortured, harassed in public? Stand up for them.
Gays are being assaulted, protested against? Defend them.
Vote against Bush.
Write your own editorials.
When the news reports blatantly partisan bullshit, cancel Fox News, CNN, et al. from the lineup (or basic cable altogether if necessary), and be sure to tell the cable company why. They do note the reason to track churn (I work for a cable company).

That's where your effort is made.

[antigone382]

26. You're not the only one who feels this way.

If I had money and a passport I would be getting out now. I don't want any more blood on my hands, and I feel like I could do more to prevent any more of it from the outside.

It's just so fucking sick.

[yebrent]

17. Email the article to these Senators!

The Gonzales vote may become the most definitive vote of our time. Let them know that. Send them any similar article you can find. We can not let up on this. 'Torture' should be on everyone's lips every day. Constant hammering is the only way to stop this and bring this administration down for the crimes they have committed.

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Repug Senators vulnerable in 2006 who of course all voted for Gonzales:

George Allen (VA)

Conrad Burns (MT) (did not vote, which is just as bad)

Lincoln Chafee (RI)

Mike Dewine (OH)

John Ensign (NV)

Rick Santorum (PA

James Talent (MO)


Also send to the Dems who voted for Gonzales:

Landrieu, Mary - (D - LA)

Lieberman, Joseph - (D - CT) (should list him with the Repugs)

Nelson, Bill - (D - FL)

Nelson, Ben - (D - NE)

Pryor, Mark - (D - AR)

Salazar, Ken - (D - CO)

[GetTheRightVote]

21. And then people here do not think we deserve any punishment

for these terrible crimes against human beings, it will take a long time for this country to live done this shameful event. This country is wrong to allow this to continue.

:kick:

[Just Me]

23. Hopefully, he'll be a witness at the next Gitmo appeal before SCOTUS.

Every single one of these mind-screwed innocents should be recruited to provide 1st hand testimony against the lawless regime-in-chief.

They should be sure to journal their experiences for future reference.

[Matilda]

24. As an Australian, this is also of concern to me,

because our government of toadies has done nothing to ensure that
Ausralians are either charged and tried in open court, or set free.
It means that anyone from any country could be accidentally in the
wrong place at the wrong time and wind up in Gitmo.

It's extraordinary that even die-hard Bush supporters can't see the
inherent injustice here, and realise it could happen to them. Laws
of habeas corpus were brought into all western legal systems for
a very good reason, and insistence of adhering to these laws should
cross political divides. I can't point a finger at your Congress
for caving in, because neither of our two major parties are saying
what they ought to be saying either.

Our leaders are selling us out.

Edit: grammar

[mod mom]

27. Sick MFers. If this is out in the UK where is the world court? UN?

the world needs to stand up to these war criminals.

[Matriot]

29. The UN is looking into this

Read this article 4 Feb 05

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=13237&Cr=terror&Cr1=

Our own government won't let the UN have access to the facility. There's also a complaint process which I gave the link at the beginning.

[0007]

30. Wow! What an article. I hope Mubanga becomes a rich man

writing poetry.