|
Chinese detainees
allegedly mistreated at Guantánamo Bay
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
WASHINGTON — The human-rights group Amnesty
International alleged yesterday that a Chinese
government delegation visited the Guantánamo Bay
prison in 2002 and participated in interrogations in
which Chinese detainees were subjected to sleep
deprivation, forced sitting for many hours and
intimidation.
Alistair Hodgett, a spokesman for the group, said it
based the claim on multiple sources of information but
declined to identify them.
In a statement released yesterday, Amnesty said it
deemed "credible" the sources' allegation that the
Chinese delegation took part in the mistreatment of
some of the 22 Chinese-origin ethnic Uighur detainees
at the military prison in Cuba.
U.S. military officials have denied allegations of
physical mistreatment leveled by some released
detainees from Britain but say some "credible"
allegations "are being investigated."
In the past, U.S. officials have confirmed foreign
intelligence officers visited the prison to help
question their countrymen, but few allegations have
emerged of direct abusive interrogations.
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Barbara Burfeind, a military spokesman,
declined comment.
U.S. officials have said some or all of the Chinese
detainees likely will be released soon.
But human-rights groups have expressed concern that
any members of the mainly Muslim Uighur community
could be harassed or tortured if returned to China
from Guantánamo Bay.
China has linked militant Uighur groups to other
Islamic militants in Central and South Asia such as
the Taliban in Afghanistan and al-Qaida.
Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company
|
