THE SAVE SHAKER AAMER CAMPAIGN (SSAC) QUESTIONS THE UK GOVERNMENT REGARDING
BRITISH RESIDENT SHAKER AAMER
SSAC has sent through to Alistair Burt Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office a number of questions which require answering. SSAC understands from radio, television and newspaper reports that British Resident Shaker Aamer and 7 other prisoners have recently sent a letter to publicise the injustice of their continuing detention in Guantanamo.
In the letter, they describe themselves as hostages stating that, “After these years of hardship that we have spent here – we want you to consider our cases as soon as possible and give us the right to a just and a public trial or set us free without restrictions.”
THE SAVE SHAKER AAMER CAMPAIGN (SSAC) QUESTIONS THE UK GOVERNMENT REGARDING
BRITISH RESIDENT SHAKER AAMER
SSAC has sent through to Alistair Burt Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office a number of questions which require answering. SSAC understands from radio, television and newspaper reports that British Resident Shaker Aamer and 7 other prisoners have recently sent a letter to publicise the injustice of their continuing detention in Guantanamo.
In the letter, they describe themselves as hostages stating that, “After these years of hardship that we have spent here – we want you to consider our cases as soon as possible and give us the right to a just and a public trial or set us free without restrictions.”
In their letter, they state that, “…inhumane treatment is taking place at the hospital among other areas, especially affecting the sick and those who are on (hunger) strike…..”
SSAC has asked whether the UK Government has taken any action as a response to the prisoners’ personal appeal for action – to end their ordeal. The SSAC has requested details of what the UK Government has done, what action they have taken, and what has been the follow-up. SSAC has asked Mr Burt whether he agrees, that after 10 years of detention without charge, the UK Government should not allow such injustice to continue.
Given the seriousness of the charge of inhumane treatment, SSAC has asked whether the UK Government has demanded immediate access to visit Shaker Aamer and the hospital areas of the camp and has put the question to Mr Burt, "would he agree that the UK Government should demand Shaker’s release so that he can receive urgent medical care?" SSAC says is it not time now for the UK Government to take international and diplomatic actions against the US Administration in order to obtain Shaker Aamer’s release?
The letter continues, “….. our deprivation of real treatment, health, diet and appropriate clothing which are not provided to us, nor are we allowed to provide them for ourselves, ”
The letter would seem to show that Shaker is being denied even the most basic needs to sustain life. Hence, SSAC has made it clear to Mr Burt the UK Government must act immediately to demand Shaker Aamer’s release and return to his family in the UK. This must be more than words as the representations made in the past by the UK Government over many years have failed.
SSAC urged Mr Burt to act now to end this gross injustice to a well-respected British Resident who has suffered for nearly 10 long years of abuse in absolute denial of his human rights.
SSAC awaits the Under-Secretary of State’s response.
