The U.S. Mission in Geneva received a letter from Bertrand G. Ramcharan, Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights and passed the contents of the letter to Washington in cable form. The letter is addressed to Ass. Sec. Lorne Craner and concerning the issue of possible detention of juvenile prisoners at Guantanamo.
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OEDE6EE 181526Z /38
R 181413Z FEB 04
FM USMISSION GENEVA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9071
INFO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION COLLECTIVE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
UNCLAS GENEVA 000448
STATE FOR IO/SHA, DRL/MLA, L/HRR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM
SUBJECT: CORRESPONDENCE FROM A/HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS WRITES ON JUVENILE «DIEUUMES» AT GITMO
1. MISSION HAS RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING LETTER ADDRESSED TO
ASSISTANT SECRETARY LORNE CRANER, FROM BERTRAND G. RAMCHARAN,
A/HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AT THE UNITED NATIONS IN
GENEVA, REQUESTING INFORMATION ABOUT JUVENILE 410.1EUMMES» AT
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE.
2. BEGIN TEXT.
17 FEBRUARY 2004
DEAR ASSISTANT SECRETARY CRANER, (CROSSED OUT AND LORNE IS
HANDWRITTEN)
I WRITE IN REFERENCE TO THE REPORTED RELEASE BY THE «UNITYD»
«STATES», ON 29 JANUARY 2004, OF THREE JUVENILE «DETAINEES» FROM
THE NAVAL FACILITY AT GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA. I VERY MUCH
WELCOME THIS DECISION BY THE «UWTTED» «STATES».
REPORTS INDICATE THAT THERE ARE MORE JUVENILE «DETAINEES» BEING
HELD AT GUANTANAMO. I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE ANY FURTHER
INFORMATION YOUR GOVERNMENT COULD PROVIDE, INCLUDING THE AGES
AND NATIONALITIES OF ANY JUVENILES STILL BEING HELD, AND OF
MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO PROVIDE THEM WITH APPROPRIATE CARE
AND «TREATMENT». IN THIS RESPECT, I NOTE AND WELCOME THE
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: SHARON E AHMAD DOS-002399
UNCLASSIFIED
DATE/CASE ID: 17 NOV 2004 200303827
NCLASSIFIED
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INFORMATION YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY PROVIDED, INCLUDING THE STATEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (NEWS RELEASE OF 29 JANUARY) THAT "EVERY EFFORT WAS MADE TO PROVIDE THE JUVENILE «DETAINEES» A SECURE ENVIRONMENT FREE FROM THE INFLUENCES OF THE OLDER «DEMINEES», AS WELL AS PROVIDING FOR THEIR SPECIAL PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL CARE". I WOULD ALSO BE VERY GRATEFUL FOR INFORMATION ON THE PROSPECTS FOR RELEASE OF OTHER MINORS, AND THE PROCESS BY WHICH THESE DECISIONS ARE MADE.
IN ADDITION, AND AS REPORTED ON THE WEBSITE OF THE «UNITED» «STATES» DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE FEARS THAT THE THREE RELEASED JUVENILES,.UPON RETURN TO THEIR HOME
COUNTRY (REPORTED IN THE MEDIA AS BEING «AFGHANISTAN»), MAY BE AT RISK OF SOME FORM OF REPRISAL FROM AL QAIDA, THE TALIBAN, OR THEIR SYMPATHIZERS. IT FURTHER APPEARS THAT THE MEDIA HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY A NUMBER OF THESE JUVENILES. THUS, I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL FOR ANY INFORMATION YOU COULD PROVIDE WITH RESPECT TO MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THESE THREE YOUNG PERSONS UPON THEIR RETURN TO THEIR HOMES.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS REQUEST, AND LOOK
FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.
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BERTRAND G. RAMCHARAN
ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
3. END TEXT.
MOLEY
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