IRAQ: Rights groups unable to visit child detainees

[Whoa_Nelly]

Mods: Just found this link via google, and the time on the release was 4 hours ago from this google news search link:
http://news.google.com/news?q=children+abu+ghraib&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&as_qdr=all&tab=wn


IRAQ: Rights groups unable to visit child detainees
Iraq Occupation Watch, CA - 4 hours ago
http://www.occupationwatch.org/article.php?id=5906

BAGHDAD, 15 Jul 2004 (IRIN) - A boy talks through an open window covered by cage-like mesh to an older boy at the Karkh juvenile detention facility in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

When the older boy sees a reporter, he ducks and quickly walks away. The reporter is not allowed to talk to him, or to visit any part of the prison on two separate occasions, other than the warden's office next to the prison entrance across an open courtyard from where the two boys are talking.

<snip>
More than 150 children ranging in age from nine to 18 are held there on any given day, both those convicted of crimes and those awaiting trial, Wali Jaleel Jabar, the warden at the detention centre, told IRIN. Families can visit the children once a week, Jabar said.

Another 58 children are currently being held as "security detainees" at Abu Ghraib prison and at Camp Bucca, US Lt-Col Barry Johnson, a spokesman for the Office of the Deputy Commanding General for Detainee Operations, told IRIN.

http://www.occupationwatch.org/article.php?id=5906

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. Kick!

This is about how rights groups are NOT being allowed to investigate the claims of abuse against children being held in Iraqi prisons.
:kisk:

[maddezmom]

2. what the hell are 9 yr olds doing that they can't get a visit from Rights

Groups????? This is disgusting beyond words.

edited for spelling

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. Totally agree, maddezmom

It sickens me to my soul that children are being held, some as enemy combatants, (see article) and the Bush military* is not allowing the reported rumors from credible sources to be able to investigate.
This is the most dangerous administration in the history of our nation. The days until the election can't go by quickly enough.

*(Hmmm...would that be Rummy Military? Naw...the buck stops at the CIC.)

[shraby]

4. Send the article to your congresscritter.

They get enough of these and maybe they'll act on them.

[xxqqqzme]

5. not if they're rethugs

we need to keep bombarding news outlets w/ this so they know the internet is on fire w/ this child torture story. If the internet is buzzing, they feel like they have 2 cover it. That is the primary reason the first torture story 'broke' - the pictures were on the net.

[Whoa_Nelly]

You are so right, rozf!

The LBN link to the Norway story is at:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x668288

And in posts #54-59, are many media email addresses to write to about all of this! (THX to maggrwaggr!)

The fact that this LBN article post is from the UK, tells the tale that the US Media has intentionally neglected the reports of children being held in Iraq, possibly subject to abuse or "TORTURE" (the word NOT being used by the US Media Whores). Also, the fact that the rights groups are being denised access makes this even worse...not just for the US, but more importantly, for the children.

If there has been an International crime, or crimes, committed against children, regardless of WHO has done this, the rights groups need ot be able to gain access to this and to be able to report the truth!

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. Oops a dupe post

Had error report...didn't meant o post twice O8)

[Whoa_Nelly]

7. Is July 16 Apathetic Friday?

Or am I just on a different planet?
Wish there were more outrage and emails to US media outlets flying about rights groups NOT being able to access the children being held as detainess and/or enemy combatants in Iraq. Some of these kids under age 12, some as young as 9.

[daleo]

8. During the invasion, propaganda was made of child prisoners under Saddam

One more way that we have seen the enemy and he is us.

[Kool Kitty]

9. Exactly. Didn't the misadministration

make much of liberating the inhabitants of a children's prison? (Which turned out to be an orphanage, I believe.) What the hell are we doing, holding children prisoner? (Not to mention the other horror that has come up about the sexual abuse of children and women.) What a fucking disaster.

[daleo]

10. Yes, the orphanage is the story I was thinking of.

The media went on and on about it.

[Judi Lynn]

11. Here's one of their propaganda planted stories found in a quick google

Iraqi child prisoners freed
08/04/2003 19:43 - (SA)

Baghdad - More than 100 children held in a prison celebrated their freedom on Tuesday as US marines rolled into northeast Baghdad amid chaotic scenes which saw civilians loot weapons from an army compound, a US officer said.

Abound 150 children spilled out of the jail after the gates were opened as a US military Humvee vehicle approached, Lieutenant Colonel Fred Padilla told an AFP correspondent travelling with the Marines 5th Regiment.

"Hundreds of kids were swarming us and kissing us," Padilla said.

"There were parents running up, so happy to have their kids back."

"The children had been imprisoned because they had not joined the youth branch of the Ba'ath party," he alleged. "Some of these kids had been in there for five years."
(snip/...)

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,6119,2-10-1460_1344832,00.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh, yeah! Isn't it just like children to want to run up to complete strangers and kiss them? Having this problem with lying for a living, our propagandists grossly (mis!)underestimate the Democratic public's intelligence.

[daleo]

12. That's the one - nice research

n/t

[InkAddict]

13. But, but, but, these aren't children

they're miniature terrorists! /sarcasm