GUANTANAMO ATROCITY - FIVE YEARS ON

12.00.00am GMT Thu 11th Jan 2007

Five years after the opening of the US detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Liz Lynne, Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands & Member of the Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights has renewed calls for its closure.

"Guantanamo Bay, ghost detention and torture represent an open sore on the human rights record of the US and a blatant act of defiance of the rule of law."

"How much longer can this illegal detention of prisoners continue? Guantanamo Bay is not a legal black hole: it is under US control, and therefore the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Torture Convention both apply. The US is obliged under international law to respect fundamental rights and observe due legal process."

"The US government must close Guantanamo Bay immediately, and either bring the detainees to trial, or release them without further delay!"

"We are all agreed on the importance of fighting terrorism, but we cannot surrender the basic human rights and values Europe shares with America. If we do the terrorists will have won."

"I and my colleagues will continue to campaign for the closure of Guantanamo, and will endeavour to see that the sixth anniversary of this camp never arrives."

ENDS