State Department cable concerning UNCHR Robinson's comments that the Guantanamo detainees should be brought before a court or tribunal for adjudication. She said that there has been a curtailment of human rights since the September 11, 2001 attacks and that it is important "at time of difficulty that human rights and international humanitarian standards should be observed." The Irish Prime Minister and Irish press echoed this position.
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ACTION 10-00 B I, 1.4(B), 1.4(D)
INFO LOG-00 AID-00DCIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00DEUR-00
H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02
PM-00 PRS-00DP-00 SP-00 SS-00 STR700DTRSE-00
USIE-00 SA-00DPMB-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00DSAS-00
/005W
5CC44F 241948Z /45
P 241709Z JAN 02
FM AMEMBASSY DUBLIN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9419
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY •
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000120
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2012
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, UN, EI
SUBJECT: UHCR ROBINSON'S CONCERNS OF GUANTANAMO PRISONERS
ECHOED BY IRISH OFFICIALS
CLASSIFIED BY: DCM JANE FORT. REASONS 1.5 (B,D)
ROBINSON VOICES CONCERN OVER DETAINEES
1.(U) AT A CONFERENCE IN DUBLIN JANUARY 17 UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER MARY ROBINSON STATED THAT SHE WAS VERY CONCERNED CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02DDUBLIN 00120 241948Z ABOUT THE TREATMENT THAT THE DETAINEES IN GUANTANAMO WERE RECEIVING, AND CALLED FOR THEM TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE A COURT OR TRIBUNAL. ROBINSON SAID THAT THE RESPONSE OF MANY COUNTRIES TO THE SEPTEMBER 11TH ATTACKS HAD LED TO A CURTAILMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND AN INCREASE IN RACIAL DISCRIMINATION. PREVIOUSLY, IN GENEVA, SHE STATED THAT "IT IS IMPORTANT AT A TIME OF DIFFICULTY THAT HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN STANDARDS BE CLEARLY UPHELD AND OBSERVED. IF ANYTHING, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT AT TIMES OF STRESS AND ANXIETY AND FEELINGS OF INSECURITY THAT THERE IS AN AFFIRMATION OF THESE VALUES."
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY: SHARON E AHMAD DATE/CASE ID: 03 NOV 2004 200303827
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TAOISEACH SUPPORTS ROBINSON...
2.(U) THE TAOISEACH (PRIME MINISTER) BERTIE AHERN, WHO ALSO
ADDRESSED THE DUBLIN CONFERENCE, TOLD THE AUDIENCE THAT HE
FULLY SUPPORTED ROBINSON IN HER CONCERNS. THE MINISTER FOR
FOREIGN AFFAIRS BRIAN COWEN, SPEAKING DURING AN OFFICIAL
VISIT TO BEIJING, TOLD REPORTERS THAT IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR
.
EXACT STATUS UNDER THE GENEVA CONVENTION (WHICH IS A MATTER
FOR A TRIBUNAL TO DECIDE) THE AL-QAEDA PRISONERS ARE ENTITLED
TO THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS. COWEN ADDED, THAT IN
CONFRONTING THOSE WHO ABUSE AND VIOLATE ALL FORMS OF HUMAN
RIGHTS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST
STANDARDS AT ALL TIMES. BOTH THE TAOISEACH AND COWEN ADDED
THAT THEY HAD RAISED THEIR 'CONCERNS WITH S/P DIRECTOR RICHARD
HAASS IN MEETINGS IN DUBLIN ON JANUARY 15.
... AND THE IRISH MEDIA JOIN IN
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PAGE 03DDUBLIN 00120 241948Z
3.(U) THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF EDITORIALS IN LOCAL PAPERS
DISCUSSING THE TREATMENT OF THE PRISONERS IN GUANTANAMO. THE
IRISH TIMES STATED THAT SOME OF THE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS
IMPOSED ON THE PRISONERS ARE GRATUITOUSLY PENAL, WHILE THE
DECISION TO SHAVE THEIR BEARDS OFFENDS THEIR BELIEFS AND
SIGNIFIES AN INTOLERANCE THEIR SYMPATHIZERS WILL BE QUICK TO
EXPLOIT. THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE STATED THAT THESE PRISONERS WHO
HAVE NOT BEEN TRIED FOR ANY CRIME, WERE TAKEN IN A DEGRADING
FASHION, HOODED AND SHACKLED, WHICH WAS ALMOST CERTAINLY•
EXCESSIVE TO SECURITY NEEDS, TO THEIR DESTINATION. THE IRISH
INDEPENDENT EDITORIAL STATED THAT THE U.S. AUTHORITIES HAVE
BROKEN THE RULES OF HUMANE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. MEDIA
COMMENTARY REACHED A PEAK WITH THE RELEASE OF PICTURES OF
HOODED AND SHACKLED PRISONERS ARRIVING AT GUANTANAMO.
COMMENT
B1
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EGAN
CONFIDENTIAL
« END OF DOCUMENT
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