GUANTANAMO BAY

Early day motion 287, tabled 15 December 2003 by Kevin McNamara (Labour). Signed by 61 members.

That this House notes that 660 suspected terrorists, including nine UK citizens, continue after almost two years to be detained at the US facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; further notes that these prisoners are being denied access to US courts to test the legality of their continued detention, have no access to civilian lawyers and that their only prospect of trial will be by closed military tribunals in which military personnel will act as interrogators, prosecutors, defence counsel, judges and, in cases where the death penalty is imposed, executioners; welcomes the US Supreme Court decision to consider whether the lower courts were correct to conclude that US courts lack jurisdiction to consider challenges to the legality of the detention of foreign nationals captured abroad in connection with hostilities and incarcerated at Guantanamo Bay; is concerned however that, in reaching a decision, the Supreme Court has access to all relevant information including the evidence that many of those held at Guantanamo Bay were not arrested in connection with hostilities; in that regard, welcomes the involvement of lawyers in the US, England and Scotland in trying to secure basic human rights for those held at Guantanamo Bay; and agrees that this Motion may be submitted as part of, and that signatories give support to, a Parliamentarians' amicus brief to be submitted to the US Supreme Court calling for all prisoners to have access to an impartial court to determine their status and test the legality of their continued detention.

Signatures by party: Labour 45, Liberal Democrat 10, Plaid Cymru 2, Scottish National Party 2, Conservative 1, Labour/Co-operative 1.