INTERNATIONAL DAY TO SHUT DOWN GUANTANAMO PRISON
Thursday, January 11, 2007

On January 11, 2002, the first prisoners arrived at Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba. Thursday, January
11, 2007, will mark five years of their indefinite detention. Few of these prisoners are recognized as
having taken part in activities hostile to US interests. A few were teenagers when incarcerated, one as
young as 14 years of age. Several have committed suicide while others have engaged in lengthy hunger
strikes to try to bring attention to their plight.

As of November 2006, out of 775 detainees who have been brought to Guantanamo, approximately
340 have been released, leaving 435 detainees. Of those 435, 110 have been labeled as ready for
release. Of the other 325, only about 70 will face trial by military commissions, which are courts run by
the US armed forces. (These commissions are clearly not impartial courts.) That leaves about 250 who
may be held indefinitely.

In 2004, the FBI asked nearly 500 employees who had worked at Guantanamo to report possible
mistreatment by law enforcement or military personnel. Twenty-six incidents were reported. Captives
were reported being changed to the floor in the fetal position for 18 hours, urinating or defecating on
themselves. Detainees were also subjected to extremes of temperature.

One witness said he saw a barefoot detainee shaking with cold because the air conditioning had
brought the temperature close to freezing. On another occasion, the air conditioning was off in an
unventilated room, making the temperature over 100 F and a detainee lay almost unconscious on the
floor with a pile of hair next to him. He had apparently been pulling out his hair throughout the night.

Since 2002, the US has imprisoned “unlawful combatants” in CIA prisons throughout the world where
torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment are carried out. Again, none of these
persons have access to the courts.

The detention of “terrorist” suspects at Guantanamo has been strongly criticized by human right groups.
In 2006, the UN called for the closure of Guantanamo. In a rebuff for the Bush administration, the US
Supreme Court last year rejected its claims that detainees at the facility were not entitled to the
protection under the Geneva convention. The department of defense consequently issued a memo
stating that prisoners would in the future be entitled to such protection.

In October 2006, President Bush – along with the consent of both houses of congress – signed into law
the notorious “Military Commissions Act” which legalizes indefinite detentions, eliminates a prisoner’s
right to a hearing before an impartial court and, for all practical purposes, allows for torture. It’s
essential to realize that a prisoners right to a hearing is guaranteed in US law under the habeas corpus
act, one of the pillars of US law. Shortly after the signing of this the Military Commissions Act, the Bush
administration informed the courts that they no longer could hear cases of habeas corpus brought by
those imprisoned at Guantanamo.

One year ago, a group called “Witness Against Torture: drew international attention after it walked to
Guantanamo to visit the prisoners and call attention to their plight. US authorities denied them access to
the prison. They returned home to launch the “Campaign to Shut Down Guantanamo” and all US
prisons overseas, including secret CIA detention facilities. They organized vigils, marches, nonviolent
direct actions and educational events to expose and decry the administration’s lawlessness, build
awareness about torture and indefinite detention, and forge human ties with the prisoners at
Guantanamo and their families.

Lawyers and human rights advocates play a significant part in the work to shut down Guantanamo, but
there is also a part to be played by the average citizen. We must all stand up on behalf of these victims
of the “war on terrorism” On Thursday, January 11, many persons will creatively challenge a system of
laws that offer no justice. These actions will take place in various locations throughout the US and in
several other countries.

For more info: http://www.witnesstorture.org

ACTIONS
1. Contact local peace groups in your area to determine if they are conducting any actions to shut down
Guantanamo prison camp. Join in their action, especially if it is conducted on January 11. For a list of
some actions currently scheduled visit http://www.witnesstorture.org/jan11_events
2. Download the flyer about the Day to Shut Down Guantanamo at
http://www.8thdaycenter.org/resources/leaflets.html and distribute copies to friends, family members,
coworkers and your faith community.