Basque prisoner in hunger strike against deportation to Spain, where he may face torture

Basque prisoner Ibai Sueskun (pictured) is in hunger strike since September 1st against his forced deportation to Spain, where he fears he could be arbitrarily arrested and tortured, even after having completed his 10-year sentence for membership in ETA. 

Sueskun is natural of Larraga (Navarre) but resident in Donibane (Northern Basque Country, under French administration) and is now at the Prison of Tarascon.

Source: Ateak Ireki[es].

California prisoners suspend hunger strike after almost two months

Yesterday Pelican Bay State Prison inmates announced that they have suspended their hunger strike, lasting for nine weeks. They warn however that the struggle is far from over. 

Greetings of Solidarity and Respect!

The PBSP-SHU, Short Corridor Collective Representatives hereby serve notice upon all concerned parties of interest that after nine weeks we have collectively decided to suspend our third hunger strike action on September 5, 2013.

To be clear, our Peaceful Protest of Resistance to our continuous subjection to decades of systemic state sanctioned torture via the system’s solitary confinement units is far from over. Our decision to suspend our third hunger strike in two years does not come lightly. This decision is especially difficult considering that most of our demands have not been met (despite nearly universal agreement that they are reasonable). The core group of prisoners has been, and remains 100% committed to seeing this protracted struggle for real reform through to a complete victory, even if it requires us to make the ultimate sacrifice.  With that said, we clarify this point by stating prisoner deaths are not the objective, we recognize such sacrifice is at times the only means to an end of fascist oppression.

Our goal remains: force the powers that be to end their torture policies and practices in which serious physical and psychological harm is inflicted on tens of thousands of prisoners as well as our loved ones outside.  We also call for ending the related practices of using prisoners to promote the agenda of the police state by seeking to greatly expand the numbers of the working class poor warehoused in prisons, and particularly those of us held in solitary, based on psychological/social manipulation, and divisive tactics keeping prisoners fighting amongst each other. Those in power promote mass warehousing to justify more guards, more tax dollars for “security”, and spend mere pennies for rehabilitation — all of which demonstrates a failed penal system, high recidivism, and ultimately compromising public safety.  The State of California’s $9.1 billion annual CDCR budget is the epitome of a failed and fraudulent state agency that diabolically and systemically deprives thousands of their human rights and dignity. Allowing this agency to act with impunity has to stop! And it will.

With that said, and in response to much sincere urging of loved ones, supporters, our attorneys and current and former state legislators, Tom Ammiano, Loni Hancock, and Tom Hayden, for whom we have the upmost respect, we decided to suspend our hunger strike.  We are especially grateful to Senator Hancock and Assembly Member Ammiano for their courageous decision to challenge Governor Brown and the CDCR for their policies of prolonged solitary confinement and inhumane conditions. We are certain that they will continue their fight for our cause, including holding legislative hearings and the drafting legislation responsive to our demands on prison conditions and sentencing laws. We are also proceeding with our class action civil suit against the CDCR.

The fact is that Governor Brown and CDCR Secretary Beard have responded to our third peaceful action with typical denials and falsehoods, claiming solitary confinement does not exist and justifying the continuation of their indefinite torture regime by vilifying the peaceful protest representatives. They also obtained the support of the medical receiver (Kelso) and Prison Law Office attorney (Spector—who is supposed to represent prisoners interests, and instead has become an agent for the state) to perpetuate their lie to the public and to the federal court — that prisoners participating in the hunger strike have been coerced — in order to obtain the August 19, 2013 force feeding order.

We have deemed it to be in the best interest of our cause to suspend our hunger strike action until further notice.

We urge people to remember that we began our present resistance with our unprecedented collective and peaceful actions (in tandem with the legislative process) back in early 2010, when we created and distributed a “Formal Complaint” for the purpose of educating the public and bringing widespread attention to our torturous conditions.

After much dialogue and consideration, this led us to our first and second hunger strike actions in 2011, during which a combined number of 6,500 and 12,000 prisoners participated. We succeeded in gaining worldwide attention and support resulting in some minor changes by the CDCR concerning SHU programming and privileges. They also claimed to make major changes to policies regarding gang validation and indefinite SHU confinement by creating the STG/SDP Pilot Program. They released a few hundred prisoners from SHU/AD SEG to general population in the prison.  But in truth, this is all part of a sham to claim the pilot program works and was a weak attempt to have our class action dismissed. It didn’t work.

In response we respectfully made clear that CDCR’s STG-SDP was not responsive to our demand for the end to long term isolation and solitary confinement and thus unacceptable.  (See: AGREEMENT TO END HOSTILITIES)

Our supporting points fell on deaf ears, leading to our January 2013 notice of intent to resume our hunger strike on July 8, 2013 if our demands were not met.  We also included Forty Supplemental Demands.

In early July, CDCR produced several memos notifying prisoners of an increase in privileges and property items, which are notably responsive to a few of our demands, while the majority of our demands were unresolved, leading to our third hunger strike, in which 30,000 prisoners participated and resulted in greater worldwide exposure, support and condemnation of the CDCR!

From our perspective, we’ve gained a lot of positive ground towards achieving our goals.  However, there’s still much to be done.  Our resistance will continue to build and grow until we have won our human rights.

Respectfully,

For the Prisoner Class Human Rights Movement
Todd Ashker, C58191, D1-119
Arturo Castellanos, C17275, D1-121
Sitawa Nantambu Jamaa (Dewberry), C35671, D1-117
Antonio Guillen, P81948, D2-106

And the Representatives Body:
Danny Troxell, B76578, D1-120
George Franco, D46556, D4-217
Ronnie Yandell, V27927, D4-215
Paul Redd, B72683, D2-117
James Baridi Williamson, D-34288. D4-107
Alfred Sandoval, D61000, D4-214
Louis Powell, B59864, D1-104
Alex Yrigollen, H32421, D2-204
Gabriel Huerta, C80766, D3-222
Frank Clement, D07919, D3-116
Raymond Chavo Perez, K12922, D1-219
James Mario Perez, B48186, D3-124

Source: Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity (see also Electronic Intifada, which compares the inhumane situation in Palestine's prisons with that of California).

Palestine: prisoners in hunger strike quit even vitamins

From Uruknet (signed by humanitarian association Adameer):

Hunger Strikes Update: Hunger strikes escalate as prisoners stop taking supplementary vitamins and boycott the Prison Clinic.

  August 3, 2013 Ramallah - Despite the mounting pressure on the hunger strikers and the Israel Prison Service (IPS) attempts to isolate them, Addameer lawyers were able to gain access to two of the twelve prisoners who have reported that all of the hunger strikers detained in Ramleh clinic have stopped taking vitamin supplements and are threatening to boycott water if their demands are not met. They are currently also refusing medical examinations.

This most recent development is in light of the harsh conditions they are subjected to in the prison clinic, including denial of medical treatment, lack of humane treatment and isolation in dirty cells.

It should be emphasized that Addameer and other human rights organizations are consistently being denied access to the hunger striking prisoners, both from denied applications and by indirect means, such as transferring the prisoner to another location on the date of an approved visit. This week, Addameer had five approved visits to hunger strikers but was ultimately only allowed access to Ayman Tbeisheh and Husam Matar. The other prisoners were transferred without notice on the day of Addameer’s visit, thereby denying them their right to legal counsel and further isolating them from the outside world.

Ayman Tbeisheh, who has been on hunger strike for 70 days in protest of his administrative detention, is currently being held in desolate conditions in Ramleh clinic in a ward for infectious diseases. For over five weeks, he has been isolated in a soundproof 2x2 windowless cell with a mattress on the floor. According to Ayman, fellow hunger strikers Adel Hreibat, Mohammad Tbeisheh, Mohammad Rimawi, Husam Matar and Abdul Majeed Khdeirat were also held in similar conditions before their recent transfer. Ayman also confirmed that three of the Jordanian prisoners are held in another ward of the prison clinic, which houses prisoners with mental disorders.

The prisoners are subjected to increased pressure and threats by the IPS to end their hunger strikes. They have reported that they are continuously transferred to different cells, subjected to night inspections, not allowed clothing, sheets, family visits and any contact with others except for a one hour recreation period in the yard. Those who are on hunger strike in protest of administrative detention have been promised verbally that they will not receive a renewal order, but the IPS refuses to document the agreement in writing.

Husam Matar, who has been on hunger strike for 61 days was held briefly with Mohammad Rimawi before his transfer to an unknown location last week. Husam reported that Mohammad’s health is critical and his life is in danger. He is currently taking medicine for a lung infection and fungal infection resulting from his hunger strike as well as suffering from mineral deficiency.

Husam is also being held in appalling conditions; he is in a small, dirty cell filled with sewage water. The conditions are so filthy that he is unable to pray during the holy month of Ramadan. Husam suffers from previous medical issues such as neurological problems, and bone issues, and currently suffers from facial hair loss, bodily pains and dehydration as a result of his hunger strike.

The hunger strikers also confirmed to Addameer that Adel Hreibat is in critical condition, his pancreas and liver are failing and he has a lack of basic minerals in his blood, decreased heart rate, blood sugar and blood pressure. Addameer was denied visitation rights for Adel despite his dangerous and

life-threatening health condition.

Addameer again calls for immediate intervention from the international community including the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union, to pressure Israel in the strongest manner possible to save the lives of all twelve hunger strikes.

USA: first California hunger strike prisoner died on July 22nd

Billy 'Guero' Sell, 32, was found dead on July 22nd at his cell in Corcoran State Prison, California. According to other prisoners, he had been asking for medical attention since mid-July.

Officials of the California prison system initially claimed "suicide" but it does not seem to be the case at all, being instead the first casualty of the hunger strike against the arbitrary and fascist "snitch or rot in the hole" regime.

Source and more details: Uruknet.

Greece: Kostas Sakkas allowed freedom on bail

It is still illegal and immoral. The bourgeois court ordered that in order for the Anarchist prisoner in hunger strike to be freed € 30,000 must be paid as bail. 

He's also banned from traveling abroad, leaving the prefecture of Attica, residing in the home he has declared as such residence, presenting himself at police station every Monday and prohibition of communicating with other people accused of membership in the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire case. 

Fundraising is being organized.

Heraklion city hall was occupied by Anarchists yesterday in solidarity with Sakkas:

Sources: Contra Info, From the Greek Streets (also here).
 

Turkey: 50 political prisoners beging hunger strike

50 people arrested in the context of the Taksim uprising have begun a hunger strike in protest for what they denounce as a witch hunt. 

Erdogan and the Turkish police-military apparatus are persecuting people for just being members of the Taksim Solidarity platform, arresting them and searching their homes. 

Taksim Solidarity demands the immediate release of all those arrested for merely exerting their right to demonstration. 

Source: Webguerrillero[es].

USA: 30,000 prisoners join hunger strike in California!!!

This may be the more massive hunger strike ever. Some 30,000 inmates from  22 of the 33 California prisons have joined a hunger strike for their most basic rights.

The strike was initiated by the Pelican Bay prisoners, who suffer the worst conditions maybe in the whole North American federation. Of some 80,000 prisoners under isolation regime in the USA, at least 1000 are in that jail. In all California maybe 4500 inmates are being kept in the hole, often for many years, even decades! Some people in SHU (security housing units) regime have not seen sunlight in 20 years.

Other 6000 suffer some other variants of the isolation regime.

Most of the isolated inmates are being held hostage of arbitrary and inhumane prison rules:

By far the largest number of SHU inmates are accused of belonging to gangs, and can only be released from solitary by accusing other inmates of gang affiliation – a process that is euphemistically called “debriefing” – thus turning everyone into a potential snitch against everyone else.

Belonging to a gang can be "determined" by the simple fact of greeting someone else, believed to be a gang member. In other words: you cannot have normal relationships with the other prisoners, make friends or whatever on penalty of being thrown into the hole for years.

Only snitches and such scum are allowed some sort of normal life and possibility of parole.

Their core demands are:

1. Eliminate Group Punishments
2. Abolish the Debriefing Policy and Modify ‘Active/Inactive’ Gang Status Criteria
3. Comply with Recommendations of U.S. Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons (from 2006)
4. Provide Adequate Food
5. Provide Constructive Programs and Privileges for Indefinite SHU Inmates.

Sources: Black Agenda Report, Webguerrillero[es].

See also: yesterday's entry USA: prisoners in California begin hunger strike against "super-max isolation" regime and their PDF single issue newspaper with demands and all kind of explanations: Strike the Prisons.

USA: prisoners in California begin hunger strike against "super-max isolation" regime

Prisoners in California have begun today a hunger strike in protest against the extreme isolation regime to which they are subject, which amounts to torture.

They have published a single-issue newspaper named STRIKE THE PRISONS to make their situation and demands known, as well as relating their struggle to the many other popular fights that shatter the World these days.

Their demands:

1. Eliminate Group Punishments
2. Abolish the Debriefing Policy and Modify ‘Active/Inactive’ Gang Status Criteria
3. Comply with Recommendations of U.S. Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons (from 2006)
4. Provide Adequate Food
5. Provide Constructive Programs and Privileges for Indefinite SHU Inmates.

Opening article:

CALIFORNIA’S SOLITARY CONFINEMENT POLICY IS A ‘HUMAN RIGHTS DISASTER’

In 2011, thousands of California state prisoners engaged in a hunger strike to end long term solitary confinement and to demand changes to the way that prisoners are assigned to these torturous units, known as SHUs (security housing units). The corrections department (CDCR) agreed to make changes, which it rolled out in November, 2012. CDCR’s public relations strategy is to persuade lawmakers, judges and the general public that its new program is a vast improvement. However, the new program keeps most of the objectionable elements of the old program and adds some new elements which make it even worse.

The Step Down Program: Under the old rules, the only way to get out of the SHU was to “parole, snitch or die”, or be found “inactive” as a gang member or associate (a rare finding). The new policy offers a new way out: the Step Down Program, a 4 step program which takes a minimum of three or four years. The first 2-3 years are spent in solitary confinement, with no education or other programming. The prisoner is required to demonstrate “progress” by, among other things, filling out workbooks showing changed attitudes. The one workbook we have seen is condescending and judgmental. Lifetime solitary confinement remains possible.

Coerced secret evidence: The hated “debriefing” program remains live and well. SHU prisoners can get out of the SHU by confessing his/her own gang involvement and identifying other prisoners’ gang involvement. This information is used to place other prisoners in the SHU or retain them there. Targeted prisoners are not entitled to know who has named them, or the specifics of the accusation. It is almost impossible to defend oneself against secret charges.

Guilt by association: Under the old policies, prisoners were assigned a six year SHU term for simply being affiliated (as a member or associate) with a prison gang. The prisoner did not have to break any prison rule. Prisoners were validated for possessing art work or political readings, signing a greeting card, exercising with other prisoners or saying hello to another prisoner. Under the new rules, this same evidence can be used to prove a prisoner is a member, and membership alone justifies a SHU term.

New disciplinary program: Under the old rules, possessing certain artwork or literature was used as evidence of gang association. Prisoners and advocates objected, saying that SHU placement should only be for gang behavior. CDCR’s responded in its new program by labeling such evidence as gang “behavior” in its new rules. Guards can now cite prisoners for rules violations for possessing these items and punishment can be imposed.

Widening the net: Under the old policies, a prisoner could be placed in the SHU for affiliation with any of seven prison gangs. Under the new rules, any grouping of three or more prisoners can be added to the list as a “security threat group”, membership in which can result in a SHU term. The expansion of the SHU-eligible population is of grave concern.

Rubber-stamping: Although CDCR has inserted a new stage of review for SHU placements, this review is still within the confines of the prison system, where the dominant culture is to rubber-stamp the gang unit’s decisions. CDCR has not changed its culture. Independent oversight is necessary to curtail CDCR’s excesses.

Re-evaluations of current SHU prisoners: As part of the resolution of the 2011 hunger strikes, CDCR agreed to re-evaluate the SHU placement of current SHU prisoners, using its new criteria. CDCR is reviewing associates first and reports that over half of its initial reviews are resulting in assignments to general population. This reclassification is a huge victory and is proof of the unfairness of the old SHU policies, but is no proof of fairness of the new policies.

stoptortureca.org

Source: Kasama.

Greece: anarchist actions in solidarity with Kostas Sakkas

Kostas Sakkas is in an advanced stage of a hunger strike to death for his human rights, as he should have been released from preventive prison many months ago but the bourgeois regime is keeping him in jail well after the law demands he should be released. Anarchists in Greece (and elsewhere) have been making protests in demand of his immediate release, as the hunger strike is already pushing Kostas' body to the point of no return.

In Thessalonikí (Macedonia) the Theater School was occupied:

In Heraklion (Crete) the local office of the Department of Tourism, as well as Greek Tourism Organization, were occupied as well.

They issued the following communication:

At Tuesday, 4/6/2013, imprisoned anarchist K. Sakkas is on hunger strike demanding his immediate release. 4/6 is the date that, according to the current legal system, the maximum limit of his remand expires.
From the first moment we were in solidarity with the struggle of his, and his decision to risk his own life for his freedom.

As anarchists of Heraklion we are in  solidarity with the hunger striker and we decided to occupy the offices of Greek tourism organization and the local department of tourism ministry in Heraklion.

In these times that minimum freedoms are sacrificed on the altar of profit for the survival of a cruel system collapsing, in these times when every effort of resistance get suppressed and defamed, the plans of all those who dominate us now seems clear. The majority of people are on the brink of destitution and there’s no prospect of the State to give a solution to the people. So it uses hope as a mean. A hope that is not based on any element of reality. Hope for recovery and growth of the economy, hope to return to the good old times when others where ….. for our own prosperity.

In Crete, in particular, but also in other regions of Greece, the hope of recovery is based on the tourism development. On one hand, funds continue to be given continuously in the heads of the tourism industry, while the tourist season employees are forced to work for little and under squalid working circumstances . On the same time, large hotel complexes on the island violate the natural environment and occupy vast areas of land that remind us landlords of other eras. This whole package is promoted in society as the recipe of the exit from the crisis and as the reason to tolerate suppresses in order to avoid affecting tourism. How many protests slandered and suppressed the last three years alone on the pretext that disturbed tourism? From the evacuation of Syntagma Square from protesters in 2011 to the most recent announcement of Chania traders association that the demonstrations must stop during the touristic period.

But we do not hope to no growth and no return to the golden years of the previous decade. The only thing that the state shows us is that it cares only for the syrvival of the local economy. For this reason we believe that at least in the touristic areas of the country we should be able to disturb the myth of Greece as a touristic. For this reason we chose to occupy the specific building in solidarity with anarchist hunger striker K. Sakka, so our voice and by extension his voice to be heard. On the same time we send a message that we are determined to stand by our comrade until he’s set free.

DON’T BELIEVE IN MYTHS

LIVE THE REALITY OF STATE CRUELTY IN GREECE

Anarchists Heraklion Crete

Source: From the Greek Streets (link 1, link 2). Also a video on Sakkas' case is available HERE. 

Greece: 6000 march in Athens in solidarity with anarchist prisoner in hunger strike

At least 6000 people marched in Athens today in solidarity with Kostas Sakkas, a political prisoner who has been in jail for more than two years without trial (the legal maximum is 18 months).

Source: From the Greek Streets (incl. more photos).

Guantanamo: hunger strike continues, prisoners threatened

Some 103 (the vast majority) of prisoners in US-controlled Guantanamo concentration camp continue on hunger strike in demand of their human rights (what essentially means their immediate release or fair trial). Nothing has changed since Obama made a brief empty speech on the matter last week, rejecting to make use of his presidential super-powers to order the immediate closure of the infamous prison.

If anything for the worse. 36 strikers are being force-fed, while intimidation happens daily in an attempt to curtail access to attorneys (the only lifeline these people have with the World). 

Source: Webguerrillero[es] (link 1, link 2).

Basque political prisoners on hunger strike after abuses from French guards

Basque political prisoners Itziar Moreno (Bilbao) and Ohiana Garmendia (Santurzti), imprisoned at Muret Seysses prison (Dijon), began a hunger strike two days ago (May 27) to denounce the abuses suffered at the hands of French prison guards, one of which pushed and threw Moreno to the ground arbitrarily and later punished her with punishment cell (isolation). 

Yesterday she was denied toilet paper and, upon her protest, sent again to isolation. These kinds of abuses seem to be increasing in the Burgundian jail. 

Solidarity protest today in Bilbao

Source: Bilboko Branka[eu].

Netherlands: immigrants in hunger and thirst strike

From Contra Info:

Since May 1st, 2013 more than a hundred prisoners in migrant detention centers throughout the Netherlands have gone on hunger and thirst strike. Some have already been broken by intimidation and isolation, but some, such as Nessar, who is on hunger and thirst strike in Rotterdam, are still on strike at the time of writing (the 13th of May). Since he is a spokesperson for the strikers, he was placed in isolation a few days ago. They are waking him up every hour, refusing to allow independent doctors visits, and since his kidneys are failing, he was brought yesterday, against his will, to the penitentiary hospital.

Solidarity with the migrants in hunger strike

These strikes have only become known due to the solidarity demo’s that took place in several migrant prisons on the 5th of May. The recent hunger strikes deserve our full solidarity, as a desperate call for dignity and freedom. In the Netherlands thousands of people are locked up simply for being ‘illegal’. The ones who decide to take these ‘measures’, the ones who make laws to which everyone must bend, are the ones profiting from control and repression.

... continue reading at Contra Info.

Sahrawi prisoner dies after hunger strike

Mohamed Burmin, 22, died after a brief hunger strike, initiated on April 30th along with other political prisoners held by the Moroccan islamo-fascist imperialist regime, in demand for their human rights. 

Mohamed was diabetic, so he suffered such strong effects from his fast that he had to abandon it just four days after its beginning. He could not recover and eventually died. 

Source: Herri Kolore[eu].

USA: 100,000 people in solitary confinement every single day - new prisoner hunger strike in California

The USA is not only the state with more people in prison but also the one with more people submitted to cruel and unusual punishments like solitary confinement. Don't tell me about gulags anymore please...

From Black Agenda Report:

The total U.S. prison inmate population held in solitary confinement on any given day exceeds 100,000 – “the equivalent of locking up every man, woman and child in Charleston, South Carolina, in their own little 8 by 12 foot box – for an eternity.” Prisoners in solitary at California’s Pelican Bay may once again go on hunger strike, July 8. They need support from the outside.

Another prison hunger strike is looming in California, where more than 200 inmates at the Pelican Bay supermax have been in solitary confinement for between five and ten years and nearly 100 have been shut off from most human contact for 20 years or more. Across the nation, on any given day, more than 100,000 inmates suffer in solitary – about 25,000 in the federal system and another 80,000 or so in state facilities. That’s the equivalent of locking up every man, woman and child in Charleston, South Carolina, in their own little 8 by 12 foot box – for an eternity. Nothing like this American form of mass human torment has ever existed on the face of the earth: systematic, industrial strength torture, multiplied 100,000 times per day. Solitary confinement as a form of routine, mass punishment is beyond barbarity. Nowhere in human history do we find barbarians who tortured hundreds of thousands of people every day for decades at a time. Only in America.

Solitary confinement, by its very nature, is designed to ensure that no one but the torturers hears the cries of the tormented. However, knowledge of such monstrous evil compels decent men and women to action, in solidarity with those who have been wronged. The prisoners of Pelican Bay, who went on hunger strike in 2011, have sent word that they will do so again, on July 8, if the state of California does not meet their core demands. One demand is fundamental: that inmates not be confined to solitary unless they have been charged, “and found guilty of, committing a serious offense… a felony!”

... continue reading at BAR.

Hunger strike to death in Guantanamo concentration and torture camp continues unabated

From The Independent:

Emaciated and frail, more than 100 men lie on concrete floors of freezing, solitary cells in Guantánamo, silently starving themselves to death.

Stripped of all possessions, even basics such as a sleeping mat or soap, they lie listlessly as guards periodically bang on the steel doors and shout at them to move an arm or leg to prove they are still conscious.

The notorious detention centre is in crisis, suffering a rebellion of unprecedented scale, with most of the camp on lockdown and around two-thirds of the 166 detainees on hunger strike.

This week 40 American military nurses were drafted in to try to stem a mass suicide. The last Brit inside, Shaker Aamer, has said he is prepared to strike to his death.

The US administration does its best to keep prying eyes from the unfolding tragedy but the The Independent has obtained first-hand reports.

Twice a day, the 23 most weak are taken into a room. Their wrists, arms, stomach, legs and head are strapped to a chair and repeated attempts are made to force a tube down their noses into their stomachs. It is an ugly procedure as they gag and wretch, blood dripping from their nostrils. “They won’t let us live in peace and now they won’t let us die in peace,” said detainee, Fayiz Al-Kandari, a Kuwaiti held for 11 years without charge.

Four are so ill that they lie in shackles in the hospital wing and insiders predict it is only a matter of time before one perishes.

“It is possible that I may die in here,” said Mr Aamer, 44, through his lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith, recently. “I hope not, but if I do die, please tell my children that I loved them above all else, but that I had to stand up for the principle that they cannot just keep holding people without a trial, especially when they have been cleared for release,” said the father of four, who remains in Camp 5 despite being approved for release more than five years ago. “Sad to say, torture and abuse continue in Guantánamo Bay and the US is throwing away yet more of its dwindling moral authority,” added Mr Stafford Smith.

The protest, which began on 6 February, has now spread through Camp 6 and Camp 5 with an estimated 100 to 130 taking part. These are not the high value detainees kept in Camp 7, the handful charged with terror offences. The hunger strikers are those who have waited a decade or more without trial, including 86 cleared for release but remain trapped because of restrictions imposed by Congress.

... continue reading at The Independent.