05/06/2007 President
Strasbourg, 05.06.2007 - "After more than five years, the US authorities are still failing to provide any semblance of justice for the alleged terrorists detained at Guantánamo Bay," said PACE President René van der Linden today, following the US military court's ruling that it lacked jurisdiction over the detainees.
"The Military Commissions Act has been shown to be just as unworkable as the system it replaced," continued President van der Linden. "By seeking to exclude legal safeguards provided by the US Constitution and international law, the US government is both flaunting justice and undermining the fight against terrorism."
"I therefore applaud the courageous and principled stand taken by the military judges and defence lawyers, which shows that respect for the rule of law and devotion to the Constitution still exist in the United States."
"This new failure should give the US authorities pause for thought on their so-called "war on terror." Guantánamo must be closed immediately and the detainees either released or brought for trial before a properly constituted court without delay. I also look forward to Mr Marty's second report on secret detentions and extraordinary renditions, which our Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights is due to adopt this Friday."