THE CLOSURE OF GUANTANAMO BAY

Early day motion 1260, tabled 15 March 2016 by Caroline Lucas (Green). Signed by 35 members.

That this House welcomes President Obama's latest plan to fulfil his pledge to close Guatanamo Bay by the end of his Presidency; notes that this is President Obama's last year in office and that his first executive order in January 2009 was to close Guantanamo; further notes that a recent US Senate report recognised the systematic use of torture in Guantanamo; believes that Guantanamo is now synonymous with torture, rendition and indefinite detention, rendering it a symbol of human rights abuses; further welcomes the release and return to the UK of British resident Shaker Aamer from nearly 14 years imprisonment in Guantanamo without charge or trial, but notes that 91 prisoners remain in Guantanamo; notes that many of these have been cleared for release without charge or trial so should be released without delay; further believes that the remaining detainees should have their full human rights restored and should either be released to countries that will respect their human rights or be given a fair trial; and urges the Government to support President Obama's effort to close Guantanamo Bay but oppose any moves simply to relocate detainees from Guantanamo to another detention facility in the US.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 17, Labour 9, Plaid Cymru 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Conservative 1, Green 1, Liberal Democrat 1.