AMNESTY INT'L PROTEST OVER DETAINEES TURNS INTO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 001648

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR/SE, DRL/CRA, G/TIP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KPAO GR HRIGHTS
SUBJECT: AMNESTY INT'L PROTEST OVER DETAINEES TURNS INTO
PRODUCTIVE HUMAN RIGHTS DISCUSSION

REF: STATE 26147

ATHENS 00001648 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) SUMMARY: Two representatives from Amnesty
International Greece (AI) met with poloffs June 26 to deliver
1000 petitions addressed to President Bush which call for the
closure of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay. After
poloff delivered reftel talking points in response to
criticisms of the facility, the cordial meeting then moved on
to an expansive, productive discussion on human rights
concerns in Greece. Meanwhile, there was a peaceful
demonstration by about 20 AI members outside the embassy also
calling for the closure of the detention center. We expect
continued, constructive collaboration with AI on human rights
matters in Greece. END SUMMARY.

AI REPS PROTEST GUANTANAMO BAY CONDITIONS
--------------

2. (U) President Gerasimos Kouvaras and Press Officer Nikos
Matroulakis of the Greek branch of Amnesty International (AI)
had a cordial meeting with poloffs June 26 to deliver "the
first" of 1000 bright orange petitions to President Bush
calling for the closure of detention facilities at Guantanamo
Bay. AI indicated that these petitions are the culmination
of three years of calling for the closure of the facility,
and mentioned that UN and EU experts and bodies, including
the UN Committee Against Torture, had also called for the
closure of the detention center. In addition to the points
made in the petitions from AI members and supporters in
Greece (transcribed in pp 5),the representatives expressed
concern that:
-- the Department of Defense, rather than Justice Department,
oversees the Guantanamo Bay facility.
-- the standards of the Guantanamo Bay facility "fall outside
of those considered by Geneva Convention to be legitimate
detention conditions."
-- the U.S. definition of torture falls short of the Geneva
Convention definition.
-- if the Guantanamo Bay facility should close, all detainees
should be released or given a fair trial, and a similar
detention facility should not be opened to replace it.
-- independent UN inspectors should be allowed to investigate
all allegations of torture or other mistreatment.
-- detainees should be ensured recourse to legal procedures
now and in the event of transfer to a other facilities.
-- physical transfer of detainees should fall within
international standards.

EMBASSY RESPONDS
--------------

3. (U) Poloff used "Rapid Response" and reftel points to
describe U.S. policy on detainees, our commitment to respect
detainees' rights, our work to improve detainee policies and
procedures, and our attention to proper provisions for
detainees. AI listened attentively and respectfully to our
points on Guantanamo, and afterward indicated that they would
continue their petition campaign until the "necessary"
changes were made at the detention center. During the
meeting, approximately 20 orange-clad AI members peacefully
demonstrated for Guantanamo's closure outside the embassy.
(Note: AI requested a June 26 appointment to coincide with
the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of
Torture.) AI Greece issued a press release stating that the
petitions would be delivered to the embassy, but told us they
did not have plans to share the substance of the meeting
publicly.

MEETING TAKES A USEFUL TURN
--------------

4. (U) After hearing each other out on Guantanamo, AI and
emboffs had a wide-ranging, hour-long discussion on mutual
human rights concerns in Greece, including detention center
and prison conditions (septel),violence against women,
police corruption, conscientious objectors, and Roma rights.
On trafficking in persons (TIP),AI reps noted that they want
a study to be done to determine the scope of the TIP problem,
an observation with which we enthusiastically agreed. AI
also mentioned their ability to dispatch some of their 4000
registered members on trafficking awareness-raising or other
projects. We were given contact information for the Greece
research team at AI headquarters in London, and will follow
up with them.

PETITION TEXT
--------------

5. (U) Begin text:

The Honourable George W. Bush
The President of the United States
c/o US Embassy in Athens

ATHENS 00001648 002.2 OF 002


91 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, Athens 10160

Dear Mr. President,

I am deeply concerned by the reports of torture and
ill-treatment by US officials, or with their involvement,
that continue to emerge from Guantanamo Bay. Evidence
suggests that these are far from isolated incidents.

Mr. President, I urge you to: close the Guantanamo Bay
detention facilities and charge the detainees under US law in
US courts, or else release them; support the establishment by
the US Congress of an independent commission of inquiry to
investigate all aspects of USA's "war on terror" detention
and interrogation policies and practices; request the
Attorney General to appoint a special council to conduct a
criminal investigation into involvement of administration
officials in torture and ill-treatment; ensure that all
US-run "war on terror" detention facilities are opened to
regular, independent unannounced and unrestricted visits by
UN human rights mechanisms.

Yours sincerely,
Name, Address, Signature, Date
END PETITION TEXT.


6. (U) COMMENT: Kouvaras and Matroulakis repeatedly
expressed their appreciation for the meeting, and were
enthusiastic to continue cooperation with poloffs on other
human rights matters. We were pleased with the constructive
tone of the meeting, and believe AI Greece can be a useful
ally on the human rights issues in Greece that we follow
closely.
RIES