This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/02/pentagon-rules-out-transfer-bagram-detainees-guantanamo

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Pentagon rules out transferring secret Bagram detainees to Guantánamo Pentagon rules out transferring secret Bagram detainees to Guantánamo
(35 minutes later)
The Pentagon has ruled out transferring its most secretly held detainees from Afghanistan to Guantánamo Bay, an official told the Guardian, and is signaling it wants to resolve their years-long plight by the new year. The Pentagon has ruled out transferring its most secretly held detainees from Afghanistan to Guantánamo Bay, an official told the Guardian, and is signalling it wants to resolve their years-long plight by the new year.
While US military officials scramble to figure out what to do with an estimated 13 non-Afghan detainees they hold without charge on the outskirts of Bagram Airfield, “none of the detainees will be transferred to Guantánamo Bay,” Lt Col Myles Caggins, the Pentagon’s detentions spokesman, told the Guardian. While US military officials scramble to figure out what to do with an estimated 13 non-Afghan detainees they hold without charge on the outskirts of Bagram airfield, “none of the detainees will be transferred to Guantánamo Bay,” Lt Col Myles Caggins, the Pentagon’s detentions spokesman, told the Guardian.
Barack Obama, who has been stymied in his attempt to close the infamous detention facility, has not added to the Guantánamo Bay detainee population since becoming president. But this week, the commander for residual detentions at the Bagram site – alternately known as the Detention Facility in Parwan or the Afghan National Detention Facility-Parwan – suggested that the non-Afghans might be sent to Guantánamo as a last resort.Barack Obama, who has been stymied in his attempt to close the infamous detention facility, has not added to the Guantánamo Bay detainee population since becoming president. But this week, the commander for residual detentions at the Bagram site – alternately known as the Detention Facility in Parwan or the Afghan National Detention Facility-Parwan – suggested that the non-Afghans might be sent to Guantánamo as a last resort.
Time appears to be drawing down for the Bagram facility. After quietly releasing dozens of non-Afghans detained over the past year, the final cohort of detainees there in US custody, the Pentagon’s intention is to divest itself of the rest by year’s end.Time appears to be drawing down for the Bagram facility. After quietly releasing dozens of non-Afghans detained over the past year, the final cohort of detainees there in US custody, the Pentagon’s intention is to divest itself of the rest by year’s end.
“The Defense Department is working diligently to transfer the handful of remaining non-Afghan detainees at the Afghan National Detention Facility-Parwan prior to December 31,” Caggins said. “The Defence Department is working diligently to transfer the handful of remaining non-Afghan detainees at the Afghan National Detention Facility-Parwan prior to December 31,” Caggins said.
After years of delay, the US military turned over the Bagram wartime jail to Afghan control in 2013. The exception has been a section of the facility where it holds the non-Afghans – mostly Pakistanis, but also Yemenis, Tunisians, and at least one Russian – without permitting them the access to legal counsel that US detainees at Guantánamo enjoy.After years of delay, the US military turned over the Bagram wartime jail to Afghan control in 2013. The exception has been a section of the facility where it holds the non-Afghans – mostly Pakistanis, but also Yemenis, Tunisians, and at least one Russian – without permitting them the access to legal counsel that US detainees at Guantánamo enjoy.
The US has neither publicly named the non-Afghans it holds nor offered justifications for the detentions of each man. The Guardian is pursuing those details under the Freedom of Information Act.The US has neither publicly named the non-Afghans it holds nor offered justifications for the detentions of each man. The Guardian is pursuing those details under the Freedom of Information Act.
A new security deal signed by the new Afghan president this week formally moves the US out of detentions related to the Afghanistan war, even as US forces will be able to operate in Afghanistan until at least 2024.A new security deal signed by the new Afghan president this week formally moves the US out of detentions related to the Afghanistan war, even as US forces will be able to operate in Afghanistan until at least 2024.
“United States forces shall not arrest or imprison Afghan nationals, nor maintain or operate detention facilities in Afghanistan,” the deal, known as the Bilateral Security Agreement, stipulates. As the US neither technically operates the detention facility at Bagram nor holds Afghans there, the deal’s implications for non-Afghan detentions are ambiguous.“United States forces shall not arrest or imprison Afghan nationals, nor maintain or operate detention facilities in Afghanistan,” the deal, known as the Bilateral Security Agreement, stipulates. As the US neither technically operates the detention facility at Bagram nor holds Afghans there, the deal’s implications for non-Afghan detentions are ambiguous.
Neither the Pentagon nor the State Department, under questioning from the Guardian, would say that the deal formally prevents them them from continuing to hold the non-Afghans. Neither the Pentagon nor the State Department, under questioning from the Guardian, would say that the deal formally prevents them from continuing to hold the non-Afghans.
The US rarely releases non-Afghans outright from Bagram, opting instead to transfer them to the control of their home government, often a way-station to full release. In cases where detainee transfers to a home government prove difficult – either for diplomatic reasons or because the US is barred from giving a detainee to a government that practices torture – the US attempts to persuade a foreign government to take custody. The US rarely releases non-Afghans outright from Bagram, opting instead to transfer them to the control of their home government, often a way-station to full release. In cases where detainee transfers to a home government prove difficult – either for diplomatic reasons or because the US is barred from giving a detainee to a government that practises torture – the US attempts to persuade a foreign government to take custody.
“Prior to transfer we seek security and human rights assurances from the countries agreeing to accept the detainees,” Caggins said.“Prior to transfer we seek security and human rights assurances from the countries agreeing to accept the detainees,” Caggins said.
As at Guantánamo, that process is cumbersome and uncertain, prompting questions about the Pentagon’s ability to divest itself of its non-Afghan detainees by December 31. As at Guantánamo, that process is cumbersome and uncertain, prompting questions about the Pentagon’s ability to divest itself of its non-Afghan detainees by 31 December.
The Pentagon “has been saying it intends to transfer them out for the last several years. I’m not holding my breath holding my breath they’ll transfer them out by the end of the year,” said Daphne Eviatar, a lawyer with Human Rights First.The Pentagon “has been saying it intends to transfer them out for the last several years. I’m not holding my breath holding my breath they’ll transfer them out by the end of the year,” said Daphne Eviatar, a lawyer with Human Rights First.