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Probe abuses in war on terror: Amnesty

LONDON: Amnesty International on Thursday urged U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to set a date for the closure of the notorious detention centre at Guantanamo Bay and appoint an independent commission to investigate allegations of abuses by America in its war on terror.

The demands formed part of a “checklist” of concrete actions that Amnesty said it wanted Mr. Obama to take within the first 100 days of his administration to reassure the world about America’s commitment to human rights.

Its Secretary-General Irene Khan said Mr. Obama must make a “clean break” with the Bush administration’s controversial policies which had damaged America’s credibility on human rights issues.

“The new Administration must focus on righting some of the wrongs of the Bush Administration and restoring the U.S. as a human rights champion at home and abroad. Millions of people, politicians and religious leaders in the United States and across the world are demanding these changes. Now is the time to make them happen,” she said. Larry Cox, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA, said Mr. Obama must “reverse the damage done at home and abroad by the U.S. government’s unlawful actions in the name of national security”. “The U.S. government’s policies during the past eight years have violated the basic rights of thousands of individuals, damaged the United States’ credibility on human rights issues and strained diplomatic relations. With the entire world watching, and the election of a new President and Congress, it’s time to commit the U.S. to its international obligations and ensure that the rule of law will be the foundation for its policies,” he said.

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Probe abuses in war on terror: Amnesty

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