Guantanamo Closure Justice to Ensure Peace

Closure of Guantanamo calls for the closure of all notorious jails

Mar 27, 2009

Obama promised change in his political campaign that led to his victory. Guantanamo's closure is that first beg step towards change which will lead to more progress.

“Change will come” – These words from Obama’s political campaign definitely have won him enough support to make him the most popular icon in the world today. His desire to see American troops out of Iraq and his announcement for the closure of Guantanamo Bay jail are steps allowing for his supporters to see the “change” actually materialize. Binyam’s freedom last month is testimony to the “change” after seven years of “war on terror” ordeal. This change is however only a tip of the ice-berg ready to melt.

Human rights activists argue that although Obama has taken steps to divert from Bush-policies towards “terrorists,” much of his strategy still imitates that of the previous government. Only time can tell whether Obama’s steps at this point should be looked at with a critical eye, or hailed so that they encourage greater change and better change. The following article overlooks the various angles around the issue of Guantanamo.

The conditions in Guantanamo jail

The notorious jail on Guantanamo Bay in Cuba is known for holding alleged terrorists under inhumane conditions for long periods of time without trial. Here, prisoners undergo solitary confinements as severe as them not being allowed any human contact besides the sight of the officer’s gloved hand pushing in the plate of food through the little window. Cell temperatures are deliberately kept uncomfortably low. In certain camps, inmates are subjected to hours of loud sound while locked up in a dark cell, with harsh lights flashed at them as a way of torture. Forced nudity, strip search, and religious abuse are all methods of persecution employed. The Amendment in US constitution clearly prohibits prisoners undergoing solitary confinement and prolonged isolation.

“Enemy combatants” the label

One of the first steps Obama took in order to outstand Bush was to banish the word “enemy combatant” previously used to describe Guantanamo inmates, and justify holding aliens for indefinite period in jails without bringing them to court. The Justice Department has made it clear that future suspects will be held as per legal standards set up by the international law of war. However, this according to analysts only means that the torture will not be the same. It does not prevent prisoners from being held for extremely long periods of time because it is unclear how long the “war” on terror will last. Following Geneva Conventions does not oblige the Obama government to grant prisoners access to the US court system either.

The Other “Guantanamos”

A news headline on February 22, 2009 in UK Independent alarmed those concerned with Guantanamo’s existence. Stephen Foley headlined: "Very Bad News Afghanistan's Bagram Air Base Will Be Obama's Guantanamo." A further $60 million will be invested in Bagram jails’ expansion so that it can hold 1100 more prisoners! At the moment there are 600 inmates locked up in Bagram. Some of these may be real terrorists, and some merely accused. At present there are about 240 inmates locked up in Guantanamo jails.

There are tens of thousands of prisoners locked up, on grounds of the US war on terror, in jails around the world. Bagram airbase in Afghanistan, Abu Ghraib prison, Mosul in Iraq, Djibouti and the prison ships on Diego Garcia are all equally notorious jails with conditions that are just as bad. In countries like Morocco, Egypt and Jordan, the form of torture used on CIA suspects of terrorism is even more severe.

Power of the People

The closure of Guantanamo jail has been applauded by most around the world; it is the first step that proves that Obama really means change. For human rights activists and supporters, to see this change means that we are already in a changed world. Whether Obama brings justice to other areas or not, one positive change only leads to another. The vibes around the world are strong and strong in favor of justice - they will call for more justice if it is not provided. Therefore, in my conclusion, no change is small because positive can only reap positive. Obama's change may have won him many votes but the materialization of change will only strengthen his support more. The people have the power to elect and the people have the power to reject too

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