Radio Free Asia article about twenty-two Chinese-origin ethnic Uyghur detainees (they are a minority Muslim population in China) being held in Guantanamo. The article discusses allegations that the Uyghur detainees were abused/mistreated by a Chinese delegation that traveled to Guantanamo. The article mentions that human rights organizations are concerned that if the detainees are returned to China that they may face harassment, detention or torture; in a statement to RFA, Colin L. Powell said the detainees would not be sent back to China.
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2004—The United States won't send back to China 22 Chinese-origin ethnic Uyghur detainees now held at a U.S. military prison in Cuba, U.S Secretary of State Colin Powell told Radio Free Asia (RFA). But he added that Washington is still trying to find a third country to take them in.
"The Uyghurs are a difficult problem, and we are trying to resolve all
issues with respect to all detainees at Guantanamo," Powell said in an
interview here Aug. 12. "The Uyghurs are not going back to China, but
finding places for them is not a simple matter. We are trying to find
places for them, and, of course, all candidate countries are being looked
at."
Some 22 ethnic Uyghurs have been held since 2002 at the Guantanamo Bay prison. Amnesty International alleged in May that a Chinese delegation had taken part in mistreatment of some of them. U.S. military officials have denied allegations of physical mistreatment leveled by some released detainees from Britain, but say some "credible" allegations "are being investigated."
Human rights groups fear the Uyghurs—the Muslim people who constitute a small minority in China but a majority in China's remote Xinjiang Autonomous Region--could face harassment, detention, or torture if they are returned the China. Al were detained as part of a broad anti-terror sweep in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.
Powell also said the United States would help bear the cost of dismantling
North Korea's plutonium and highly enriched uranium program, but only if
Pyongyang agrees to a "totally irreversible" dismantling of its declared
nuclear arms program.
"I think just as we did with Libya in helping to remove the burden that it had of these programs, we would certainly help North Korea," Powell said. "It's important to say, though, it has to be done in the context of something that is totally irreversible, and it has to be done in the context of the entire program, all aspects of the program, and it has to be an acknowledgement of not only the previous programs of plutonium, but the enriched uranium programs as well."
"So, in that context, and that's the six-party talks, certainly the United States would be willing to assist with the cost of removal, destruction, and total elimination of the programs," he said.
RFA broadcasts news and information to Asian listeners who lack regular access to full and balanced reporting in their domestic media. Through its broadcasts and call-in programs, RFA aims to fill a critical gap in the lives of people across Asia. Created by Congress in 1994 and incorporated
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in 1996, RFA currently broadcasts in Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, the -Wu dialect, Vietnamese, Tibetan (Uke, Amdo, and Kham),
• and Uyghur. It adheres to the highest standards of journalism and aims to exemplify accuracy, balance and fairness in its editorial content. Visit www.rfa.org to learn more about RFA or listen to RFA broadcasts. #####
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