Amnesty International says US denies rights in 'war against terrorism'
 

http://web.amnesty.org/report2003/2am-index-eng

Summaries

The past year has witnessed a global drive to push forward national security measures in the context of the 'war against terrorism' often at the expense of human rights. This international climate has threatened human rights protection in the region in a number of significant ways.

The USA continued to deny internationally recognised rights to people arrested in the context of the 'war against terrorism'. Thousands were detained from the war in Afghanistan in defiance of international humanitarian law. More than 600 detainees continued to be held at the US naval base, Camp X-Ray, in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, where they were held without charge or legal assistance. The USA refused to recognise them as prisoners of war or afford them other rights under international law. Conditions in Camp X-Ray, and later, in Camp Delta, gave cause for serious concern. US forces also held hundreds of detainees in Afghanistan, or in undisclosed locations.

Many of the 1,200 foreign nationals - mostly Muslim men of Arab or South Asian origin -- detained in the USA during investigations into the 11 September 2001 attacks were also deprived of safeguards under international law. By the end of the year most detainees arrested during initial sweeps had been deported - some to countries where it was feared they were at risk of being tortured - or were released or charged with crimes unrelated to "terrorism".

The security measures enacted by the new government of Álvaro Uribe Vélez exacerbated the spiralling cycle of political violence in Colombia. The breakdown of peace talks in February between the government and the main armed opposition group, the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), deepened the human rights crisis. The main victims of human rights violations, perpetrated by the army, with their paramilitary allies, and armed opposition groups, continued to be civilians. The statistics are chilling: over the year, more than 500 people "disappeared", over 4,000 civilians were killed for political motives, over 350,000 people were internally displaced in the first nine months of the year, and over 2,700 people were kidnapped, by guerrilla groups or paramilitary forces. The government dragged the civilian population even further into the conflict by creating a million-strong network of civilian informers, who are expected to collaborate with the security forces.

"Anti-terrorism" legislation threatened to corrode human rights protection in Guyana and Paraguay, whilst Peru's "anti-terrorism" legislation continued to deny people a fair trial. In Canada, fears increased that people accused of supporting armed Islamist groups were at risk of being deported to countries where they faced a serious risk of torture.

http://web.amnesty.org/report2003/2am-index-eng

are you going to make posts about every left wing idiot or group of idiots who gives an opinion?

im going to make posts about you.

12clicks is crap. he touched me inappropriately once.

You're the 10yr old who's ass I put my foot up?
It all makes sense now.

You sap sucking salamander.

psst.... remember the methadone parties you used to host?

Fatty Arbuckle has nuttin' on you.

Two things... the first has not even been touched upon by international org reports... yet:

(1a) It is already recognized by other countries and jurists on international law that the US invasion of Iraq is illegal under international law.

(1b) The conduct after the invasion of Iraq contravenes several Treaties to which the US is party. This contravention continues.

(2) The Columbian situation was brought about by one of these, now famous, "US aid" agreements. There is no such thing as "aid" from the US. The "thing" in Washington did a deal with Columbia to have the government intern "all and any" as they saw fit, - ie "arrest and no trial", (a common US trait!), "arrest and indefinate incarceration", "arrest cause we feel like it". There are now no individual freedoms in Columbia. This "arrangement" was made in return for "aid" from the US. Three days after this was agreed, "aid" was sent to Columbia.

I can see now, but saw this earlier, why the US "cannot" subscribe to any Human Rights issues (even for folks living within the US), and avoided signing the Treaty to prosecute war crimes.
I could be fair to assume under the current climate that there would be some interest in signing this. :1orglaugh

Maybe the french, germans, canadians, and other tough talkers should teach us a lesson.:1orglaugh

First, for your education, I don't hear any of these countries involved in "tough talk". If you know more, please state the sources and enlighten.

Second, these countries have no interest in "teaching a lesson" to anyone, far less interested in education some totally ignorant US person. That is the responsibility of the US government.

It looks like they failed in this as well. :1orglaugh

id be willing to sit down with you and educate you to the truth.

You were already taught a lesson on September 11, 2001.

Did you take notice?

look who's home from the day job!:1orglaugh

What lesson was taught?

Thats a pretty low blow. Playing devils advocate for the sake of playing devils advocate or being a jerk on a board is one thing.

you can still have respect for the lives of innocent people despite disagreeing with a nations politics.

you are a boob.

theking:

Cummon.. surely we don't have to go thru some learning experience on this??

There is a problem and it ain't just because of 9/11 - it started years back. A look at the underlying causes might strike ya as a possibility??

Sadly, it may not be the last "lesson"...

Funny how you Americans only care about the lives of innocent people when they are American lives.

Space Ace still takes pride in bragging about the deaths of innocent Iraqi civilians in his sig.

You are a disgrace to Canada. Hate for the sake of hate is wrong.

:321GFY:

Eh?

Canada? WTF?

I'm Australian.

And I don't hate... I just point out the obvious. :1orglaugh

I think that I am fully aware of what the underlying causes are for terrorist acts against the USA...its assets and its interests.

I ask again what lesson was taught?

Is that the best you could do?

I expected more.

I've met many people in my life and a common discussion is that Australia has the worlds UGLIEST women.

That is probably why sixpack married an American.

There's no need for more.

Amnesty is a joke - I used to write for them and donated money to their cause. I waited for them to come forward about the documented torture in Iraq when the conflict began - they said nothing... I waited as the reports of torture came in as the war progressed - nothing again. Silence only, until the war was over. Then came criticism of our (USA) mistreatment of POWs in Cuba; and now more drivel about our actions. They know full well what has been going on in Iraq but say nothing. AI is a tool of the left and has no real concern about the suffering of people - unless it suits their leftest agenda.

dude, they'll be all over you like a fool on 12clicks for that!:thumbsup

I think I'll be in good company.

Maybe they should!

I don't understand.

Is that meant to be some kind of insult?

The lesson I learned is that George Bush could piss in your mouth and you would accept it if he told you it was in the interest of patriotism.

Baaaaa

theking:

And my reply is... if you don't "get" the wake up call by now, there is little hope.

SIG357:

Why did you write for AI when this is your opinion??

Do you have any published material which you have written??

I do not like George Bush being in the office of the Presidency...I did not help put him there...and will not help him gain the Presidency when he runs again.

I have stated repeatedly that the President does not act in a vacuum and cannot act in a vaccum. The President has very limited powers...the real power lies with the Congress. The President cannot act without the approval of Congress and without money appropriated by the Congress and ultimately niether can act without the approval of the American people. The President cannot make law and really can only make limited foreign policy decisions without the approval of Congress. The President has the limited powers of issuing Executive Orders but those Executive Orders...when challenged...can be ruled against by the Supreme Court and the order will have to be withdrawn.

It is irritating hearing everyone saying Bush did this Bush did that when Bush (like all Presidents) really only has a bully pulpit and very limited power.

The USA is not going to change policy because of some rag tag terrorists...so there is not a lesson taught. It is those that would strike us that should learn a lesson. The USA has been very limited in its response thus far...but the USA can get pissed if the mosquitos keep biting.

I wrote in good faith - believing that they served a worthwhile cause. I don't think you will find anything published. I am very disappointed with the way they have acted in this regard.

theking:

Yes, you said all that already in other posts.

The point is.. this "President" has more power and it not answering to Congress. The adopted style is that of "secrecy".

He has already asked for a blank check from Congress to "act as he sees fit" and several other measures to retain control solely within the Presidential Office. That is not a democracy in action.

This is a government which has amalgamted various services into a "central control". The claim is, this "improves efficency" and "inter departmental cooperation". In truth it is an extension of "control".

If ya even think that is some democracy who "values our freedoms and beliefs", ya gotta be kidding!

hehe, this said by a guy still looking for clinton to cum in his mouth.

Of course Amnesty International comes from the left. You're not stupid enough to think the same people that violate human rights are out there trying to protect them...are you??

NOW THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT WING CHRISTIANS ARE EVEN PISSED

Bush Risks Disfavor With Christians Over Israel
By Andy Butcher
CNS
May 29, 2003

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Bush's peace efforts in the Middle East could set him at odds with a key constituency back home as he prepares to campaign for a second term in the White House - America's millions of evangelical Christians.

Aligning themselves with Israel, they could prove to be "an unmovable obstacle to Bush's 'Roadmap'" to peace, says "Newsweek" magazine, which tells of the "deepening alliance between Jewish supporters of Israel and the growing ranks of Christian Zionists."

Pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon regarding his country's position on the Palestinians could incur the wrath of the 50 million-strong evangelical community in the U.S. the president hopes will "turn out in record numbers next year," observes the newsweekly.

It describes the evangelical Christian-Jewish alliance as a "typical marriage of faith, principle and convenience," but adds that "mere politics is involved, too." For conservative Christians want to "shed their image of intolerance." "Newsweek" reports that conservative activist Grover Norquist says evangelical believers are "tired of being branded anti-Semites."

One-time presidential nominee candidate and Christian campaigner Gary Bauer told the magazine that Bush's failure to call for the ouster of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and his sending Secretary of State Colin Powell to meet with Arafat, was "more than those of us who support Israel could take."

Bauer recently organized a protest letter signed by two dozen evangelical leaders that warned President Bush against being soft with the Palestinians. Speaking at a Zionist conference earlier this month, "The Washington Times" said, Bauer said: "The land of Israel was originally owned by God. Since He was the owner, only He could give it away. And He gave it to the Jewish people."

Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson told "Newsweek": "If they do anything other than make Jerusalem the capital of Israel, they would be messing with the word and the power of God."

Along with other evangelical leaders such as Jerry Falwell, Robertson and Bauer last year helped engineer a flood of several hundred thousand messages to the White House "urging it to lay off Sharon and jettison Arafat," says "Newsweek." Falwell told the magazine that in regular conference calls between evangelical leaders and the White House, "the Middle East comes up during most [of them]."

"Newsweek"'s report - headlined "A Very Mixed Marriage"-- cites actions in February by House Republican leader Tom DeLay as "a landmark in the history of strange bedfellows" regarding evangelical Christians and Jews. Speaking the day after the Columbia space shuttle disaster - whose lost crew included an Israeli astronaut -DeLay recited the Jewish prayer for the dead "to the astonishment of his audience," the magazine says.

But many were wary of his social issues - for guns, school prayer and vouchers, while against abortion and gay rights. "Nor are they fond of his occasional declaration that what America needs most is more Christians in office," the report says. "Some would argue that it's a mistake for Jews to get into bed with the religious right," commented the Anti-Defamation League's Jess Hordes.

"Newsweek" notes that last week DeLay told Jewish political activists in Washington, DC: "Israel is not the problem in the Middle East. Israel is the solution."

theking:

DUH??? But they have. They spend most of there time on this and have spend billions. It is now the biggest "US fetish" since communism. Sheesh!! :1orglaugh

What specific foriegn policy has been changed?

Exactly my point. AI doesn't care about human rights unless the situation fits their political agenda.

theking:

Jesus.. I did think you had more "there".

US "foreign policy".. these are loose words, - is a matter of using fear of attacks with US citizens.

This changes on, almost a daily basis as follows:

(a) We are friends with the French... no, sorry, we are not friends with the French. (And because of that we go into a hissy fit and sulk.)

(b) "Our allies" in the "coalition" are with us... na, sorry, they are not with us cause some are evil today.

(c) Tuesday is the day of hate for X so we will issue them with a "warning".

(d) Wednesday is hate Saudi day cos they have "Islamists" there.

(e) Thursday is reserved for our "ally" Iran. We don't like them on Thursday because they don't do what we want. So, we start a campaign of more "evidence" that they are making WMD.

(f) Friday is hate UN day cos the Security Council did not give us a lollipop and agree to our demands. So.. they are "irrelevant" and we are going to play in another ball park.

And the list goes on.... it is a list that is far too long for here and can go back decades.

Basically the lunatics have taken over the asylum - such a thing as US foreign policy is a fickle whim of someone's imagination. There is none.

In fact, I can't actually think of any Western country with a more unstable foreign policy. So what you expect when you elect monkeys? Shit... we have monkey's here that are more mentally stable than the US Admin - and with more common sense!! They ain't psychopathic!
:Graucho

What you listed is just daily rhetorical bs and does not represent any substantive change in foriegn policy. Get fucking real...your arguements are getting weaker.

What specific foriegn policy has not been changed?

well, i agree. the US is terrible, and there have never been, or are, any other country that are even comparable in their atrocities. not a single one.

you foreigners know what to do! you can fix this! just gimme a couple days to go down to arms&ammo and stock up!


those of you from the US, either start something to fix this, or smoke a blunt, stick a flower in your hair and lay out in a field with an accoustic guitar and sing about it.


things can be changed. i'm starting to work on getting things changed here in my local gov't, because they are fucking rediculous. that's the beauty of this process. they eventually have to change if enough people scream, or they know they'll have someone coming after them in their sleep.

One that stands out is the one our little "terrorist friends" claim is important to them. That of course is Israel.

Damn...meant to edit not quote.

theking:

What is listed is a daily occurance that typifies US foreign policy.

There is NONE... so it ain't gonna be easy to find *anything* that as not changed and I sure ain't gonna enter into some detailed dialogue of this "US myth" on a chat board, - tis far too long!!!

Now.. can I call the "thing" and ask that we be friends and have some "international cooperation" or will I be the devil incarnate on Monday and he won't take any phone calls cause he's in the middle of another hissy fit and loaded with hate? You think any country can trust this man with anything?? If you do, you need "guidance".

OK.. how about we do a deal on this monkey?? He is sociable, understands quite a lot, loves bannanas and can make astute decisions - he is not gonna be rushed into bullshit from "advisors". He also does care about his friends, so I think he will do just fine! I'll need to ask his political leanings.. but will get back to you on that so he can be ready for his Congressional approval :Graucho

The scary part is this clown has a computer.