Guantanamo Hunger strikers close to death

[Judi Lynn]

US Human Rights

Guantanamo Hunger strikers close to death
Posted: 2006/01/24
From: Times of England

By Sarah Baxter

The condition of two emaciated Yemeni hunger strikers who have been refusing solid food since August is causing particular concern. There are also fears for the life of a hospitalised Saudi prisoner.

The wife of a British resident and hunger striker, Shaker Aamer, visited the Commons last week to appeal to MPs for help. Aamer’s wife, 31, who lives in London with her four children and has asked for her name to be withheld, said: “This is the time to do something. My husband is not going to last.”

Aamer has been on hunger strike since November 2. Although he has lost weight, he is stronger than some other prisoners taking part in the protest at their detention without trial.

According to a report to be released tomorrow by the prisoners’ rights group Reprieve, the Yemenis, identified as Abu Bakah al-Shamrani and Abu Anas, are said by detainees to be gravely weak. Shamrani weighs only 70lb (5 stone).

Reprieve claims Camp Echo, which is comprised of isolation cells, has been turned into a “force feeding institution” away from other prisoners and its gravel path paved with concrete so the hunger strikers can be moved around in wheelchairs.
(snip/...)

http://mathaba.net/0_index.shtml?x=507802
Copyright 2006 Times Newspapers Ltd.

[varkam]

1. I do not have the words

to express how awful that makes me feel.

[Judi Lynn]

2. I haven't seen ONE WORD of this in our own media. Not one.

I'm sick, too, varkam.

By the way, welcome to D.U. :hi:

[Proud2BaLiberalMom]

3. I read about the force feedings about a month ago...

It made me sick and made me cry.
I just can't believe our own country is doing this to people...

Wait a minute.....yes, sadly, I can.:-

I am a true Christian. I belive God created all of us equal.
It's what we do with our lives that makes us different.
For, there is only one race...the HUMAN RACE!!!
( :cry:

[ClintonTyree]

4. What choice do they have?

They can be held against their will in perpetuity for no reason at all. They've been labeled "enemy combatants", a catch-all phrase that in effect means, "we don't like the looks of them". They've been denied a chance to have their day in court and will most certainly die there anyway.
This is our government, folks. This is what American citizens can look forward to in the bush imperial presidency after he's stacked the Supreme Court with enough right-wing loonies.
Given the choices these men have I'd probably do the same thing.

[ninkasi]

5. I only hope

I would have the courage to do the same. Indefinite imprisonment, with no legal remedy, and no hope of a trial, would be worse than death. How can our government be part of this evil? How can we stand by, and let one sociopath send our country down a dark tunnel to hell, without trying to speak out, and stop it? What happened to America?

[Disturbed]

6. What happened to America?

A group of Neo Fascists siezed power over Amerika.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

7. Why are you surprised at this?

Doesn't anyone remember what happened in Long Kesh (the Maze Prison) in Northern Ireland in 1981? Bobby Sands and the rest of the 11 IRA/INLA prisoners that died from hunger just for the right to be considered political prisoners and to wear their own clothes?

Read some history, the US government learned very well from the mistakes of the Brits during their campaign in Northern Ireland.

Only difference is, that in 1981, the mainstream world press figured out what the Brits were up to.

In 2006 that luxury is not afforded to us, they're all corporate whores.

[leftchick]

8. where the hell is the US Media on this?

amerikan terrorism is never reported. :grr:

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

9. Read post #7. n/t

[Popol Vuh]

10. The same corporate whore pattern

is true with respect to all the CIA covert actions throughout the world that have taken place since their inception.

If you watch the DVD "What I have learned about U.S. foreign policy" a former commanding CIA officer proclaims that in their best estimate these covert operations have resulted in approximately six million deaths.

And you'll never hear that reported on the news.