“The Lynx is out of the lair”
Habeas corpus? Not at Guantanamo
Who is really imprisoned at Guantanamo? The radio program This American Life reports that over 85% of these prisoners were sold to the U.S. in Pakistan for money offered for foreigners in the country who are ‘terrorists’. Pakistani and short on money? Offer a foreigner a free meal, a place to sleep, make some phone calls, and your financial problems could be history. The program also includes the history of habeas corpus in Britain. You can listen to this important program on line. Better yet, purchase the CD and share it with your friends. The situation in Guantanamo has tremendous implications for human rights.
What does the U.S. constitution: Article 1, Section 9 “The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.” Our country has not been invaded. Therefore, habeas corpus cannot be suspended. Jose Padilla, as U.S. citizen, was held without charges since May 2002. He was arrested in Chicago. Finally, he has been transferred to a civilian authority. He is still being held without bond.
Immediately after 9/11/2001, the U.S. government arrested over 1200 muslims and people of middle eastern decent, and held many in solitary confinement without contact with family, friends or attorneys. We still have no idea how many were U.S. citizens.
What of the argument that it is better to err on the side of caution by holding anyone suspected of terrorism as a preventative measure? Look in the mirror, fair blog-reader, the person accused of being a terrorist could be you, the evidence obtained from secret internet and phone tapping. And you could be held without being able to defend yourself.
I say toss out the current Congress in the next election. They’re abrogating out constitutional rights to the Bushies. The Bushies have proven they have no intention of respecting human rights anywhere on globe.
Regime change begins at home at the ballot box.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
“The Lynx is out of the lair”
