Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SANTIAGO1322
2006-06-16 18:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION - GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM: GUANTANAMO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHSG #1322 1671834 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 161834Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9429 INFO RUEAWJA/DOJ WASHDC
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001322
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA
STATE FOR INR/IAA, L/WHA, DRL, S/P
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PHUM CI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM: GUANTANAMO
DETAINEES
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001322
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA
STATE FOR INR/IAA, L/WHA, DRL, S/P
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PHUM CI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM: GUANTANAMO
DETAINEES
1. On June 15, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El
Mercurio" (circ. 119,807) carried an editorial entitled, "Debate
Over Guantanamo." Quote:
2. "The suicide of three Al Qaeda prisoners in the Guantanamo
detention center has reactivated controversy over the camp and
renewed accusations of human rights violations.... But President
Bush has invoked the special circumstances of the 'war on
terrorism'...saying the Geneva Convention does not apply because the
prisoners are not soldiers of a recognized government.
3. "We do not doubt the difficulties of fighting terrorists: they
are not a regular army, blend with the civilian population, and use
the guarantees of rule of law to operate but the U.S.--which bases
its social system on the respect for human rights--cannot disregard
these rights, even in this case. The legitimacy of its fight on
terrorism depends on the moral strength of its cause. Situations
such as the one in Guantanamo only degrade that moral strength.
Chile already learned that even in justified cases ignoring human
rights degrades the cause and eventually turns against it. The U.S.
should dismantle the Guantanamo prison without abandoning its fight
against terrorism."
KELLY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA
STATE FOR INR/IAA, L/WHA, DRL, S/P
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PHUM CI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM: GUANTANAMO
DETAINEES
1. On June 15, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El
Mercurio" (circ. 119,807) carried an editorial entitled, "Debate
Over Guantanamo." Quote:
2. "The suicide of three Al Qaeda prisoners in the Guantanamo
detention center has reactivated controversy over the camp and
renewed accusations of human rights violations.... But President
Bush has invoked the special circumstances of the 'war on
terrorism'...saying the Geneva Convention does not apply because the
prisoners are not soldiers of a recognized government.
3. "We do not doubt the difficulties of fighting terrorists: they
are not a regular army, blend with the civilian population, and use
the guarantees of rule of law to operate but the U.S.--which bases
its social system on the respect for human rights--cannot disregard
these rights, even in this case. The legitimacy of its fight on
terrorism depends on the moral strength of its cause. Situations
such as the one in Guantanamo only degrade that moral strength.
Chile already learned that even in justified cases ignoring human
rights degrades the cause and eventually turns against it. The U.S.
should dismantle the Guantanamo prison without abandoning its fight
against terrorism."
KELLY