FORCE-FEEDING AT GUANTANAMO BAY DETENTION CAMP

Early day motion 1767, tabled 7 March 2006 by Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 71 members.

That this House notes with concern allegations made by Guantánamo Bay detainee Fawzi al-Odah in a BBC interview that hunger strikers were strapped to a chair and force-fed through a tube three times a day at the detention camp; further notes that Mr Odah was one of 84 hunger strikers at Guantánamo in December 2005; further notes that fellow inmate Mohammed Bawazir has launched a legal challenge against the force-feeding policy under the US McCain Torture Law; further notes that the US administration has since suggested that this law may not apply to Cuba; and calls upon the Government to restate publicly its opposition to the use of torture in all its forms and to express its support for Mr Bawazir's court challenge.

Signatures by party: Labour 38, Liberal Democrat 25, Plaid Cymru 3, Conservative 2, Respect 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.