http://www.ansarburney.org
His Excellency Colin Powell The Secretary State State Department Washington, D.C. Your Excellency In the very greater interest of justice and Human Rights the “Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International” would like to request for an early response from the United States about published photographs, showing Taliban and al Quaeda prisoners on a U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, kneeling and tightly manacled. The prisoners, regardless of their technical status, should be treated humanely and in accordance with customary international laws. According to the reports during their transportation from Pakistan and Afghanistan, they were transported in a very horror way, in which the prisoners were shackled and blindfolded for the long flight to the camp in Cuba. Destined for 6-foot by 8-foot enclosures with roofs and floors but only chain-link walls. Sunday newspapers in Britain carried photographs of such prisoners in red overalls -- eyes and ears covered, with their arms tightly shackled -- kneeling behind wire fences. We have a question; In this situation how America, its alliances and other human rights champions defend civilization ? The treatment does seem to be way below the standards one could expect in a civilized society in a new century where every one was expecting peace, justice, supremacy of law, humanity, human rights and freedom as given in the charter of the United Nations Human Rights Commission and Geneva Convention. Controversy over the conditions in which prisoners from Pakistan and Afghanistan are being detained at a US Base in Cuba, and their legal status, is growing, putting the United States in an embarrassing spot. The Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International is protesting not just the detainees' conditions, but their lack of protection under the Geneva Convention, which outlines conditions of treatment for Prisoners of War (POWs). Alleged ill-treatment of prisoners in transit and in Guantanamo Camp, including reports that they were hooded, shackled, and sedated during transfer is painful for the organization believes on Humanity and Human Rights. Degrading treatment of prisoners is a flagrant violation of international law which cannot be justified under any circumstances. The Ansar Burney Welfare Trust is very concerned about allegations over the treatment of the prisoners. It is important at a time of difficulty that human rights and international humanitarian standards be purely upheld and observed. The Ansar Burney Welfare Trust believes that the detainees are being held in violation of even American Constitution, Charter of the United Nations Human Rights Commission and Geneva convention. Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International calls on the United States to end legal limbo of Guantánamo prisoners. The America should ensure respect for the Human Rights of all people who have been or may be transferred from Afghanistan and Pakistan to a US military base in Guantánamo Bay in Cuba. The US is placing these people in a legal limbo. Allegedly they deny that they are Prisoners of War (POWs), while at the same time failing to provide them with the most basic protections of any person deprived of their liberty. The US has obligations under International law to ensure respect for the Human Rights of all persons in their custody including the duty to treat them Humanely and ensure that they have recourse to fair proceedings, regardless of the nature of the crimes they are suspected of having committed. If there is any dispute about their status of ‘Prisoners of War’ (POWs), the US must allow a "competent tribunal" comprising on representatives from the international Human and civil Rights groups, International Bar Associations and also representatives from the countries believes on Peace, Justice, Humanity and Human Rights to decide their fate, as required by Article 5 of the Third Geneva Convention. Any detainee who is suspected of a crime, whether or not they are POWs, must be charged with a criminal offense and tried fairly or released. Denying rights of Prisoners Of War, protected by the Geneva Conventions for a fair trial is a war crime. We request access to the prisoners, and expressed concern over their ambiguous legal standing. They should be treated as POWs (Prisoners of War) until a proper procedure, on an individual basis, can determine their status. The housing provided at Guantanamo -- small cells with chain link fencing for walls, concrete floors and wooden roofs is against the charter of the United Nations Human Rights Commission. Housing conditions, in cages partly exposed to the elements, is also contrary to the Geneva Convention. We have great concern regarding their treatment in Cuba. There are also some allegation that beards moustaches and hairs of these prisoners had been cut down before taking them to Cuba. Under the circumstances the ”Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International” would like to request, Your Excellency, to accord permission to the delegation of the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust to visit detention camp in Cuba to meet these prisoners for ascertaining factual position as well as to know the truth and what facilities are being provided to these prisoners? Looking forward with best wishes and regards Yours in Respect ANSAR BURNEY, Advocate Chairman Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International (Human and Civil Rights Organisation) 6 Hassan Manzil, Arambagh Road, Karachi, Pakistan. Phone: + 92 21 2623382, 2623383, 2626155, 2627155 Mobile: 0300 8243459 Fax: + 92 21 2623384 Website: http://www.ansarburney.org E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] **************************************** _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com
