Echorouk Forum on Guantanamo: “Algeria’s decision is independent,” says human rights leader

Head of the Consultative National Commission for Human Rights Promotion Farouk Ksentini said Algeria’s position was clear towards the Algerian prisoners in Guantanamo. “The government rejected any pre-conditions from the US administration.”

• “Algeria is a sovereign country and we reject any condition regarding any Algerian citizen,” Ksentini said in a conference held at Echorouk newspaper’s headoffice in Algiers.
• He added that Algeria found difficulties in negotiating with the Bush administration regarding the Algerians estimated at 25 in Guantanamo.
• “The government is following the case of 11 Algerians still detained in Guantanamo.”
• Ksentini also said US President Barack Obama is under pressure from people in power to keep the camp opened.
• Guantanamo former prisoner Sami Hajj said there are still 11 Algerians there while nine were acquitted and another one appeared in a military tribunal.
•  
•  
• Arabs and Muslims must play their role
•  
•  
• Algerian former communication minister Mihoub Mihoubi said the Muslim people should respect themselves to not be offended by the Western countries. “The point is that associations and political parties do not play their role in the cases of oppressed individuals.”
•  
• Hugs and tears
•  
• Sami Hajj was surprised by an Algerian man who gave him a hug and shed tears as they were detained together in Guantanamo.
• It was a moving scene for Sami Hajj as he saw his former companion in detention Bachir Mehlal, 32, who said he would have been mad if he did not meet Sami Hajj on his visit to Algeria.
• Al Jazeera cameraman expressed his delight over that unexpected meeting. “I am very happy for being in Algeria. I was honoured by knowing Algerians in the camp.”
• Sami Hajj promised to continue his efforts to release the rest of the prisoners. He said a new institution will be opened next month to defend and help them.
• “This institution will prosecute all those who were involved in the criminal acts perpetrated against Guantanamo prisoners.”
• According to Sami Hajj, a total of 95 percent of the prisoners were deported to the US while some of them were brought from areas far from the conflict place in Afghanistan.
• Journalist Madani Amer called on the Algerian media to do what the Qatari channel Al Jazeera did with Guantanamo former prisoners including Sami Hajj and Taissir Alouni.
• “Media should play their role and put pressure,” he said.
• He called for setting up a support investigation commissions to present the issue to the public opinion.
• Professor Mustapha Khyati called on Arab and Muslim doctors to move and contact the American Psychological Association.
• “They should put pressure to withdraw membership from all the doctors who participated in torture in Guantanamo,” he said.
•  
•  
• Enemy combatant is a repressive term
•  
• Doctor Fouzi Oussedik said the US used a repressive term under a legal cover by calling war prisoners Enemy Combatants.
• “America exercised repressive arrests which mean in law arresting someone with no charges or without fair trial.”
• “The US has always been against torture but they publicly violate human rights principles,” he added.
•  
•  
• Proposals:
•  
• –        To create of Guantanamo Prisoners Families Association.
• –        To provide social care for the families and psychological and medical care for released prisoners.
• –        To divulge mafia groups and the Pakistani government partner in the selling of foreign people to the US government at 3 to 5 thousands dollars.