ICRC wants access to inmates after Abu Ghraib closes

[cal04]

Prisoners at the U.S. military prison at Abu Ghraib should be moved to a location where the International Committee of the Red Cross can visit them once the jail closes, the ICRC said on Friday. Dorothea Krimitsas, a spokeswoman for the Geneva-based humanitarian agency, declined to comment on the U.S. decision to close the jail, but said the ICRC was most concerned that the detainees be treated appropriately under international law.

She said ICRC experts had not been able to see prisoners at Abu Ghraib since January 2005 because the Baghdad area was so dangerous. Some 4,500 people are being held at Saddam Hussein's former torture centre, which gained worldwide notoriety when photographs showing U.S. soldiers abusing prisoners were published in 2004.

"It's not so much the place as the treatment," Krimitsas said. "If they are transferred to another place where we could have access to them, that would be very good news. "What is important for the ICRC is the treatment and the question of access to detainees." The ICRC monitors whether prison conditions and treatment of prisoners comply with the 1949 Geneva Conventions, which lay down rules for dealing with those captured in international armed conflicts.

Krimitsas said the ICRC was in regular contact with the U.S. authorities in Iraq but, in line with the organisation's policy of confidentiality, would not say whether or where it was recommending detainees be moved. She said ICRC experts continued to visit other U.S. detention centres across Iraq including Camp Bucca and Camp Cropper. More than 14,500 people are being held in four such centres.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/10032006/325/icrc-wants-access-inmates-abu-ghraib-closes.html

[Trevelyan]

1. K&R -- We must not forget these victims of the Bush Regime and do

everything we can to support Human Rights groups who are working so hard to stop these atrocities. and our soldiers are being forced to train as Gestapo and most don't like it but have no choice. Several suspicious deaths of US soldiers at Gitmo.

""Who do I turn to?'" Turn to General Wesley Clark for President
in 2008. He will take responsibility to make sure the laws are written correctly and will FORBID torture and punish those that engage in that disgusting practice. Trust me...he'll put an end to it and see to it that the higher ups that condone torture will be prosecuted...not just the underlings. He's a fair and honest man that can be TRUSTED.
Lets Go Get Those Bush Bastards -

http://ga4.org/campaign/prisonerabuse?source=gac_pa "

[uppityperson]

2. That would be a very good idea.

Now that they will be moved to a "less dangerous" place, let the ICRC see them. Good.

[mom cat]

3. K&R ... & thanks.

[TankLV]

4. Who says they're going to let the inmates FREE?!?!?!

They're just CLOSING THIS PARTICULAR PRISON.

They'll just move all them "terra-ists" to some other hellhole that is less well known.

Do I have to spell out EVERYTHING to you all!