The Hindu : International : U.S. denies Commander was aware of abuse

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 25, 2004

International

International

U.S. denies Commander was aware of abuse

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, MAY 24. The United States military has denied a news report that one of the top American Generals was aware of the prisoner abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison and was even present during abuse of detainees.

"There was a news report published on May 23,2004 which suggests that Lt. Gen Ricardo Sanchez, Commander of Multinational Forces-Iraq, was aware of, and in some instances present at Abu Ghraib while detainee abuse was occurring. This report is false," the U.S. Military has said in a Statement.

The Washington Post said in a story on Sunday that a military lawyer had said at an open hearing on April 2 that Captain Donald Reese told him that Lt. Gen Sanchez and other senior military officers were aware of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib. This military lawyer is representing one of the seven of military police officers facing criminal charges.

Lt. Gen Sanchez, according to the statement issued, stands by his Congressional testimony that he was unaware of the abuses until the time he ordered the investigation to look into the allegations this January.

The horrific images of sadistic abuse of the prisoners has received worldwide attention and brought about a sense of revulsion in many quarters here, especially on Capitol Hill where Members of Congress, Republican and Democrat, have expressed outrage.

But senior military and civilian officials have been maintaining since the time this scandal hit the headlines that action had been initiated immediately every time there were allegations of abuse; and in the current context have been maintaining that no senior military commander in Iraq was aware of prisoner abuse.

Prison officials have passed on the abuse to lower level military police some of whom have said that they were just following orders.

According to The Post a transcript of the April hearing at Camp Victory in Baghdad has shown the military prosecutor asking the lawyer for Staff Sgt Ivan `Chip' Fredrick: "Are you saying that Captain Reese is going to testify that General Sanchez was there and saw this going on?."

Captain Robert Schuk representing Sgt. Fredrick replied: "I am an officer of the Court, Sir, and I would not lie. I have two children at home, and I am not going to risk my career."

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