Posted on 10/03/2002 12:22:02 PM PDT by texson66
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba -- The number of detainees scooped up in the war on terror who have tried to commit suicide in their wire-mesh cells is increasing, military officials said Wednesday. But they declined to say at what pace. Officials had previously said four of the 598 men in the growing detention camp tried to kill themselves in the past few months. The men are suspected of belonging to the al-Qaeda terrorist network or to Afghanistan's fallen Taliban regime. Methods included trying to hang themselves with towels and slitting their wrists with plastic forks. Wednesday, officials said more prisoners have tried suicide, but they won't say how many or what methods they used. "Indeed, there have been more attempts. But in terms of numbers, our policy is not to discuss that," said Sgt. Ray Sarracino, a Southern Command spokesman in Miami. "The attempts were thwarted very quickly by those guarding the detainees, and they were treated." The detainees -- held in 8-by-7-foot wire-mesh cells surrounded by razor wire and patrolled by armed guards -- began to arrive at the century-old naval base, blindfolded and shackled, on Jan. 11. From the temporary cells many described as cages, they were moved to Camp Delta. There, they are still locked in wire-mesh cells, but they have toilets and wash basins. The U.S. government has declared the prisoners "unlawful combatants," which means they do not qualify for prisoner-of-war status under the articles of the Geneva Convention, even though officials say their treatment meets conditions of the international treaty. Human-rights advocates and lawyers representing some detainees and their families say the "legal status limbo" contributes to stress and depression that could lead to suicide attempts. Military health officials said about 30 detainees are taking antidepressants. Capt. Albert J. Shimkus Jr. said most mental-health problems that have surfaced can be attributed to post-traumatic stress relating to experiences on the battlefield. However, he said he didn't know whether stress from the detention has become a complicating factor.
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
But what they'd really like right now is a Governor with a perfect record of "no clemency", I bet.
A pity we can't offer them the "tough on crime" compassion that is capital punishment and are actually making them suffer.
Why?
There's another thread claiming al Quaeda had a three phase attack planned against the U.S.
Now if I were a prisoner and thought my side was winning, or at least planning a major strike, I'd want to be around when it happened.
Their depression tells me the current world situation was not planned.
The next time someone talks about the "treatment" of these thugs, I will remember this sentence.Couldn't we just let them bleed to death? Of course not because we're so darn "Respectful" of Other Humans Rights---though you wouldn't think so from listening to the 'Scourges in The Media' for 30 seconds.
As long as it's electrified.
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