A reported 103 of Guantanamo’s 166 prisoners are participating in the hunger strike, which has lasted for more than 100 days.Follow RT’s day-by-day timeline of the Gitmo hunger strike. Over the weekend, hacktivist group Anonymous marked the 100th day of the protest with “twitterstorms, email bombs and fax bombs” aimed at drawing worldwide attention to the hunger strikers. The US Military responded to ‘Operation Guantanamo’ by restricting wireless internet access at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. RT’s Marina Portnaya spoke with Ramzi Kassem, who represents Moath al Alawi, a prisoner held at Guantanamo without charge for 11 years.RT: Thank you for your time. When was you client shot and what were the circumstances of the shooting?Ramzi Kassem: On Saturday, April 13, 2013 the Guantanamo military prisoner administration decided to raid Camp 6, which is a prison facility at Guantanamo, where my client Mr. Alawi is being imprisoned. They conducted that raid in order to move all of the prisoners into solitary confinement. And that was just one additional way that the prison administration wanted to try to break the hunger strike. What happened on that day according to Mr. Alawi is that in that process he was shot without any warning for absolutely no good reason by one of the US Army guards at dangerously close range using rubber-coated steel bullets that are only safely used outside of a certain range. He was shot in five places: One shot was around the heart, another shot was in his elbow, another was in his shoulder, and there were a couple of impacts on his thighs. Particularly, the shot that went to his heart at that close of a range, even a rubber-coated steel bullet, can penetrate skin and can be fatal. The authorities of Guantanamo endangered Mr. Alawi’s life for no reason. They gave him no warning, fired at him repeatedly and then, following that fact, they delayed medical treatment that he should have received immediately.RT: Has the US government acknowledged that this shooting did take place?RK:Absolutely. I have received confirmation in writing by an email from the Department of Justice that Mr. Alawi sustained what they described as minor injuries. But when I heard the description from Mr. Alawi himself, it was very different from what I saw on the government’s email. We also received confirmation in writing from the US government via email that Mr. Alawi was force-fed. This is also a violation of international law.The fact that it is done in an unnecessarily painful and brutal way – prisoners are strapped down to these restraining chairs, that they have tubes forced down through their noses into their stomach. There are many other ways to tube-feed prisoners, even if these prisoners wished to be tube-fed, and the US government is again doing this in a deliberately violent way in order to break the hunger strikers.RT: Correct me if I am wrong: He is being held in Guantanamo without charges against him?RK:That’s correct. Mr. Alawi has never been charged with any crime. We have no reason to believe that the US government has any interest in charging him with an actual crime be it at a real court or at the military commission. The reality is that Mr. Alawi has been at Guantanamo for over 11 years without fair process and that is a reason he is on hunger strike today.RT: US President Barack Obama is expected to address the nation on Thursday speaking about Guantanamo detention center, and I assume he would address this hunger strike. What would you like to hear?RK:I can tell what I would not like to hear. I don’t want to hear the repetition of the promises that President Obama has been making for years. I don’t want to hear that he is going to appoint some official who will be responsible for closing Guantanamo. We’ve had an official like that for years, and Guantanamo was not closed. I don’t want to hear about the administrative review mechanisms, because we had many before that and they did not lead to any meaningful progress.The only official who is responsible for the existence of Guantanamo today as far as I am concerned and my client is concerned is President Obama himself. He need to take concrete steps towards closing that prison and I don’t believe the men in Guantanamo will interrupt their hunger strike unless President Obama take such concrete steps. One very obvious concrete step he can take is to begin by releasing some prisoners, who are approved for transfer, who can be repatriated or resettled in another country like another one of my clients Shaker Aamer, who has been approved for transfer for years. The UK has been asking for his release, that’s the US oldest and most trustful allies. He is a very natural first step if the president is about closing the Guantanamo. We need actions, deeds, not words. … Read More
‘Anonymous’ hack threat prompts WiFi shutdown on Guantanamo
A spokesman for the US prison on Cuba confirmed that authorities have also denied access to social networks such as Facebook and Twitter through military computers because of the hackers’ ‘Operation Guantanamo’.Follow RT’s day-by-day timeline of the Gitmo hunger strike.Army Lt. Col. Samuel House told the AP the decision to block online access was made because of threats to disrupt activities at the base allegedly made by the international group Anonymous. So far there have been no reports of disruptions.Last Friday, Anonymous kicked off a global on-line protest to mark the 100th day of the hunger strike by prisoners protesting their conditions and indefinite detention at the US base. The three day campaign was intended to raise awareness of the human rights violations at Guantanamo, which include the indefinite detention of prisoners, many of whom have been cleared for release years ago. The series of “twitterstorms, email bombs and fax bombs” saw hashtags #OpGITMO and #GTMO skyrocket in popularity on Twitter, with thousands of Twitter users joining in every few seconds.Activist groups demanding the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison marked the 100th day of a hunger strike at the detention facility by last week submitting a petition to the White House that had some 370,000 signatures.Richard Killmer, executive director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, said that “years of detention without charge or trial have created a sense of desperation and hopelessness among the men at Guantanamo, which has led over 100 of them to join a hunger strike,” AFP quoted him as saying.Clive Stafford Smith, a British attorney representing some of the detainees being held since 2002 at Guantanamo, also urged the Twitter community on behalf of one of his clients, Shakar Aamer, to take action against the notorious prison. Unclassified (please retweet): Shaker Aamer would like everyone to call US Embassy 020 7499-9000 to demand action on Guantanamo Bay — Clive Stafford Smith (@CliveSSmith) May 20, 2013 The message has been retwitted over 280 times.As of Monday, the military said 103 of the 166 prisoners were participating in the hunger strike, which has continued for over 100 days. Some 30 of them are still being force fed – a practice condemned as ‘torture’ by the United Nations human rights office. At the same time, closed door military tribunals continue amid claims of secret monitoring of client conversations with lawyers, as well as censorship of some court testimony. … Read More
‘Cooperation in Iran’s interest to clarify peaceful nuclear intent’ – IAEA chief
The urgency of which to reach an agreement appears to be increasing, as Washington and Tel-Aviv threaten a possible military response if diplomacy and sanctions fail to make Tehran restrain its nuclear program. With an Iranian election set for next month, Tehran is looking increasingly unlikely to back down over its controversial nuclear program. Negotiations held last week failed to bring about any major shift or concession from either party. Over the past few months, the IAEA and Tehran have held several talks in an effort to develop a structured approach to addressing the Iranian nuclear issue.“What we can say about the nuclear activity of Iran is that Iran is conducting nuclear activities in a quite steady manner,” Yukiya Amano, Director General of the IAEA told RT.The watchdog, based in Vienna, has on various occasions expressed concerns that Iranian authorities have denied its inspectors access to Iran’s nuclear facility in Parchin. The IAEA says it needs such access to allay international concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran maintains that its nuclear research is conducted for peaceful purpose only.“We are not saying that Iran has nuclear weapons or that Iran has decided to develop nuclear weapons but we have pieces of information that indicate that Iran was involved in activities relevant to the development of nuclear explosive devises,” Amano stressed.The head of the nuclear watchdog added “We do not draw conclusions but we put questions and we tell our Iranian friends that they need to clarify the issues.”Though closely linked, the talks between the IAEA and Iran remain separate from discussions that Tehran is holding with six world powers, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany.Last week Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator said that Tehran and the six world powers will resume talks on its nuclear program “in the near future,” most likely some time before the Iranian elections on June 14.But in the meantime, Amano underlined that “Cooperating with IAEA fully should be in the interest of Iran. They say all of their activities are for peaceful purposes and we would like to help Iran to clarify the issue.”The IAEA chief also stresses that a repeat of the Iraq scenario, where failure to cooperate was used as a pretext to invasion, is unlikely to happen with Iran. Asked about Israel’s double standards in regards to the alleged possession of nuclear weapons and Iran’s push for nuclear development, Amano said that international law applies differently to Israel as it is not a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.“Israel is not a member of the NPT so what IAEA can do is vary the activities in the facility which Israel decided to place under our safeguard, we do not have the authority to go beyond that.” The issue of Israel’s possession of nuclear weapons, which has not yet been officially acknowledged by Tel Aviv, is crucial to an international effort to create a region nuclear free zone. A conference on the introduction of a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction was called for at a May 2010 conference to review the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The idea has failed to materialize, as Israel said it would not attend the international conference. “Many countries of the international community want Israel to attend a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Conference and the NPT. My role is to maintain the channel and share the information and advice,” Amano said.In regards to the use of nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster, the watchdog’s head said“Our safety features have been strengthened,” adding that the“Fukushima accident was a huge wake-up call for all the countries to enhance safety.” Despite the Fukushima accident, the use of nuclear power will continue and expand, Amano explained. … Read More
Syria in frame: Netanyahu vows ‘continued’ protection of Israel against ‘leakage of weapons to Hezbollah’
In public remarks made at his weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said with great emphasis that the Israeli government would “continue to act to ensure the security interests of the citizens of Israel,” suggesting that further strikes could be on the cards.“The Israeli government acts in a responsible, determined and measured manner to ensure the State of Israel’s main interest, which is the security of its citizens,” he said.According to the Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu’s comments came in response to a Sunday Times report alleging that Syria had missiles directed towards Tel Aviv, following several deadly strikes on a military facility in Damascus at the beginning of May.They reportedly targeted a shipment of missiles en-route from Iran to Lebanon’s Hezbollah.”Our policies are to stop, as much as possible, any leaks of advanced weaponry to Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations. We will continue to act to ensure the security interests of the citizens of Israel,” Netanyahu stressed.Israel had neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for May’s attacks. However, Reuters reported shortly afterwards that Netanyahu had convened the security cabinet on the previous Thursday in order to approve the airstrikes.Israel refused to confirm the strikes so as not to incite retaliation from Syria, an aide to Netanyahu told Jerusalem Post.On Wednesday – the day after Netanyahu’s visit to Russia – a senior Israeli official told the New York Times that any reaction to Israeli hostilities from Assad’s government means “he will risk forfeiting his regime.””If Syrian President Assad reacts by attacking Israel, or tries to strike Israel through his terrorist proxies, he will risk forfeiting his regime, for Israel will retaliate,” the official is cited as saying.It was noted that the decision to contact the paper and make would have been made at the highest levels of Israeli government – however Netanyahu’s Office refused to deny or confirm being behind the report, Haaretz says. … Read More
OpGTMO: Zero hour to Anonymous global anti-Gitmo action nears
Follow RT’s day-by-day timeline of the Gitmo hunger strike.The three day campaign, which kicks off on Friday, is intended to “Raise Awareness in social media of the human rights violations going on at Guantanamo, the indefinite detention of prisoners, many of whom have been cleared for release years ago.” In a statement released earlier this month, Anonymous expressed their solidarity with the hunger strikers, vowing they would “shut down Guantanamo.” They have instructed supporters of their global action to use the tag #GTMO17 when the countdown clock strikes zero. As a part of the twitterstorm, the group has sent out a series of lines to be re-tweeted which highlight reported abuses at the camp.”’The United States is slowly killing men in a prison that should never have existed.’ #GTMO17” “’They’re not going to be brutalized into submission, and I think the net result will be some of them will die.’ #GTMO17” “’When that tube goes up your nose, your eyes begin to water, as it passes through the back of your skull…’ #GTMO17”“’86 detainees have been cleared for release or transfer, but efforts to send them home have stalled, making them more desperate.’ #GTMO17” The group has characterized the detention facility as a concentration camp, casting aspersions on a series of alleged human right’s abuses ranging from force-feeding to the practice of compulsory cavity searches for detainees prior to any meeting with their lawyers. It has further lambasted US President Barack Obama for wavering on his 2009 promise to shut down the camp, which the collective described as “an ongoing war crime.” The Anonymous website also posted phone numbers for the White House, the United States Southern Command and the Department of Defense, urging supporters to ‘phonebomb’ officials with calls about the camp. Inmates at Guantanamo initiated the hunger strike in early February over alleged mistreatments, including the mishandling of their Korans. Out of the camp’s 166 detainees, 102 are currently taking part in the hunger strike. Thirty of the prisoners are being force-fed, a practice which the UN human rights office condemned as “torture” and a breach of international law, and three have been sent to the detainee hospital for observation. The swelling ranks of those demanding the prison’s closure has among its ranks not only internet activists, but those who have inside knowledge of the camp and its operations. Colonel Morris Davis, the former Chief Prosecutor for the terrorism trials at Guantanamo Bay, has become a prominent advocate for the camp’s closure.“It’s been an embarrassment to the country, it’s drained our credibility, it’s wasted our money and it’s time for it to close.” … Read More
US under fire over privatization of prisons
http://www.youtube.com/v/AKq9gk3OH1s?version=3&f=videos&app=youtube_gdata Source: US under fire over privatization of prisons
Elderly nun goes on trial for worst breach ever of US atomic complex
Court proceedings began Tuesday in Knoxville, TN for Sister Megan Rice and two other members of the Transform Now Plowshares, an anti-nuke protest group that is charged with crimes related to the July 28, 2012 break-in of the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.Prosecutors have charged Rice, 57-year-old Greg Boertje-Obed and Michael Walli, 64, under the Sabotage Act for trespassing on the protected site where the United States stores a significant portion of its enriched uranium supply used in weapons making. If convicted, the charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.The three defendants willfully admit to their actions last summer but insist on exercising their right to a trial. They were initially charged with destroying property within the complex, depredation against property of the United States in an amount exceeding $1,000 and trespassing onto US Department of Energy property. After refusing a plea deal, though, prosecutors tacked on the sabotage count of injuring national-defense premises last December.“We chose to exercise our constitutional right to a jury trial and refused to bow down to their threats,” the trio said last year before the charges were upgraded. “We remain convinced that making and refurbishing nuclear weapons at Y-12 is both illegal under US and international law, and it is also immoral. Ultimately, we are required to follow the law of love and our consciences.”When the Sabotage Act charge was tacked on in late 2012, the defendants issued a statement saying, “Our consciences compelled us to act at Y-12 Oak Ridge nuclear facility because we knew that the nuclear weapons of mass destruction illegal produced there threaten the well-being of our entire planet.””They are innocent of all these charges and feel that everything they did was legal and moral, and I think they believe that this (new charge) is ridiculous,” defense attorney Bill Quigley told Huffington Post of his clients after the December indictment was unsealed.Prosecutors said the defendants cut through a fence at the Y-12 facility last year and then spent roughly two hours walking the premises, spray-painting slogans and vandalizing the walls of buildings using hammers and human blood.Speaking to the New York Times last August, Sister Megan Rice blamed “the criminality of this 70-year industry” on her case. “We spend more on nuclear arms than on the departments of education, health, transportation, disaster relief and a number of other government agencies that I can’t remember.”After the trespass, though, spending has only gone up at Y-12. Despite being called the nuclear sector’s equivalent of Fort Knox, three protesters with an average age just shy of 70 had no problem entering the site last year and going undetected for hours, allegedly causing $70,000 in damage during that time. A federal spokesman for the site later told The News Sentinel that the government spent $15 million in direct costs following the breach, largely on “modifications to the PIDAS (perimeter intrusion, detection and assessment system), with the installation of additional concertina wire and animal fencing, physical security upgrades — such as additional sensors and cameras — and additional personnel and miscellaneous costs.” After the breach, an Energy Department inspector general wrote of finding “troubling displays of ineptitude” at the complex and a handful of local officials were reassigned. … Read More
