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Obama Approves Resumption of Guantanamo Trials

   VOA News  March 07, 2011
   A  guard tower in front of the detention facility on Guantanamo Bay US
   Naval Base in Cuba (File photo)

Photo: AP

   A  guard tower in front of the detention facility on Guantanamo Bay US
   Naval Base in Cuba (File photo)

   Trials  of Guantanamo detainees were suspended shortly after President
   Obama took office and ordered a review of detainee policy
   U.S.  President  Barack  Obama has approved the resumption of military
   trials  for  detainees  at the military detention center in Guantanamo
   Bay, Cuba, after a two-year freeze.
   In  an  executive  order released Monday, the White House outlined new
   policies for detainees. It said the measures will broaden the nation's
   ability  to  bring  terrorists  to  justice  and  ensure  their humane
   treatment.
   The  trials  of  Guantanamo  detainees  were  suspended  shortly after
   President  Obama  took office and ordered a review of detainee policy.
   Mr.  Obama  has  consistently  maintained  that  he wants to close the
   detention center.
   His  executive  order  establishes  a  process  for continuing to hold
   detainees  who  have  not  been  charged,  convicted or designated for
   transfer.  It  also  calls  for  a periodic review of inmates who U.S.
   authorities have determined are too dangerous to set free.
   The  White  House  said  it  will  seek  the  repeal  of congressional
   restrictions  on  trials  of  suspects in U.S. federal courts. It said
   there  are  situations  in  which  a  civilian  trial  would  be  more
   appropriate than a military proceeding.
   The prison at Guantanamo opened during the administration of president
   George W. Bush. Human rights groups and others have harshly criticized
   the  government for holding detainees indefinitely without charge, and
   for alleged abuses that have occurred at the facility.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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