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May 15, 2009

Guantanamo Military Tribunals to Resume
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2445091:A6F02AD83191E160EB39CCC0C2CC79D67F0EB4B66EA3A89D&
 
New legal protections for detainees include limiting use of hearsay,
banning evidence gained through harsh treatment 
In this photo, reviewed by US military, the exercise yard at
Guantanamo's Camp 4 detention facility is pictured before dawn, 14 May
2009The Obama administration is expected to revive military-run trials
for
terror suspects being detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - but with new
legal protections not provided under the Bush administration. Senior
U.S. officials say the new system will limit the use of hearsay, ban
evidence gained through harsh treatment, give defendants more freedom
to choose their own counsel, and provide more protections for detainees
who refuse to testify. President Barack Obama, who criticized
the Bush-era system as a failure, is expected to ask for a 120-day
delay in pending cases while the legal system is adjusted. Mr.
Obama suspended the trials shortly after taking office in January,
pending an official review, but he did not rule out restarting them. Mr.
Obama's decision is likely to draw fire from civil rights advocates and
his Democratic supporters, who are already upset over his decision
Wednesday to block the release of more photos depicting detainee abuse
in Iraq and Afghanistan at the hands of U.S. troops. There are
241 detainees being held at the Guantanamo U.S. military prison, which
President Obama has promised to close by January. Former
President George W. Bush created the military tribunal system to hear
cases against "enemy combatants" being held at Guantanamo. Some
information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.


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