The Guantanamo Bay detention centre has been in operation since October 2001 and is run by Joint Task Force Guantanamo. The camp was set up to hold foreign suspects that were captured during the conflict against the Taliban and al-Quaeda in Afghanistan.
To begin with, detainees were help in an area known as Camp X-Ray which was replaced by a more permanent facility called Camp Delta in 2003.
Controversy Surrounding Guantanamo Bay
Guantanamo Bay has many critics that accuse the detention centre of mistreating the inmates of the camp and using torture techinques on the prisoners. Red Cross inspectors, who are the only outside organisation who are permitted to enter the camp and visit the prisoners, have alleged the use of torture techniques such as beatings and sleep deprivation. The rumours of torture have also drawn criticism from numerous human rights organisations. The controversial Waterboarding technique has also been rumoured to occur within the camp.
As of 2008, there have been four successful suicides and hundreds of suicide attempts. In June 2006, three prisoners were found dead in an apparent suicide act. Amnesty International states that the apparent suicide may have been because of the indefinite detention period that the Guantanamo Bay detainees are subjected to.
There have also been complaints that the Guantanamo Bay centre, and some of the activites that go on inside it are in violation of a number of UN torture policies and the Geneva Convention.
It has also been reported that, in 2005, sexual methods were used by female interrogators to extract information from detainees.
Released prisoners have told of horrific treatment by the prison guards such as being chained to the ground in the fetal position for eighteen hours or more.
In April 2004, diplomats from Cuba called for the UN to run an official investigation into the prison.
What is the Response to the Allegations from the USA?
The United States say that prisoners inside the detention centre are treated humanly and there have only been a small number of case of misconduct by the Guantanamo Bay guards. Foreign Governments have been asked to take some of the prisoners, and the US complain of having no choice but to keep the prison open.
The Future of Guantanamo Bay
President-Elect Barack Obama has said that the shutting of the Guantanamo Bay centre is a priority and he has received much support because of this. It is unknown what will happen to the inmates-they may be repatriated or kept in other US prisons.
Sources:
Guantamano Bay Detention Camp
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