CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Guantanamo prison situation unsustainable for United States

• Number of prisoners on hunger strike grows to 89

Taken From Granma International
June 2, 2006

The existence of the prison on the Guantanamo naval base is becoming increasingly unsustainable for the United States. The number of prisoners participating in a hunger strike has increased in the last few hours, and international demands are growing to close down the prison.

Another 14 prisoners joined the mass hunger strike being carried out by inmates held in that prison, raising the total to 89, ANSA reported.

The detainees, who have not had access to a judicial process, are protesting against their open-ended imprisonment for being considered suspected terrorists or belonging to the Taliban of Afghanistan.

Six of the inmates are being force-fed, according to Navy Commander Robert Durand. Several days ago, in an interview with an Australian television channel, Durand said that official policy is to prevent anybody from dying while in U.S. custody.

Three detainees began a hunger strike last August. By September, the hunger strikers numbered 131, but the number decreased as the months went by and forced-feeding was used.

Some 460 prisoners are currently being held at the naval base prison.

On May 18, two prisoners tried to kill themselves by ingesting large quantities of prescription medicine, and other prisoners attacked guards who tried to stop the inmates from committing suicide, according to U.S. official accounts.

 

 

 

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