Cablegate: Media Reaction - Global War On Terrorism: Guantanamo

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DE RUEHSG #1322 1671834
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161834Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9429
INFO RUEAWJA/DOJ WASHDC

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001322

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STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PHUM CI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM: GUANTANAMO
DETAINEES

1. On June 15, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El
Mercurio" (circ. 119,807) carried an editorial entitled, "Debate
Over Guantanamo." Quote:

2. "The suicide of three Al Qaeda prisoners in the Guantanamo
detention center has reactivated controversy over the camp and
renewed accusations of human rights violations.... But President
Bush has invoked the special circumstances of the 'war on
terrorism'...saying the Geneva Convention does not apply because the
prisoners are not soldiers of a recognized government.

3. "We do not doubt the difficulties of fighting terrorists: they
are not a regular army, blend with the civilian population, and use
the guarantees of rule of law to operate but the U.S.--which bases
its social system on the respect for human rights--cannot disregard
these rights, even in this case. The legitimacy of its fight on
terrorism depends on the moral strength of its cause. Situations
such as the one in Guantanamo only degrade that moral strength.
Chile already learned that even in justified cases ignoring human
rights degrades the cause and eventually turns against it. The U.S.
should dismantle the Guantanamo prison without abandoning its fight
against terrorism."

KELLY

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