In addition, it called on Washington to allow a UN Human Rights
Commission delegation to visit the prison, with free and open access and the
possibility of speaking in private with the prisoners.
These issues were raised in Geneva on April 5, by Navi Pillay, UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights, who condemned the indefinite incarceration
of many of the prisoners, which she stated amounted to arbitrary detention.
The official highlighted the cases of prisoners detained
indefinitely, some of them for more than 10 years. This practice contradicts the
United States' stance as an upholder of human rights and weakens its position in
terms of such violations taking place elsewhere, she added.
The Human Rights Commissioner referred to the prisoners on hunger
strike as victims of uncertainty and anxiety caused by prolonged detention.
Similarly, she recalled promises made by U.S. President Barack
Obama four years ago regarding the closure of this prison, commenting that
systematic abuses of the human rights of individuals continue year after year.
(PL)
April 11, 2013
