[torture] US Christians reach the city of Guantanamo today while 4 Christian Peacemakers are threatened with execution in Iraq

[announcement-only list for witness against torture]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2005
International Human Rights Day

WITNESS AGAINST TORTURE
http://www.witnesstorture.org

Contact: Mike McGuire, 347.683.4928
press at witnesstorture.org

*US Christians to Arrive in Guantánamo Today as 4 Christian Peacemakers 
in Iraq face execution
*
/"Our march says that the work of *Christian Peacemaker Team* in Iraq is 
like the work that we're doing here as we march to Guantánamo. We're all 
looking for just and humane treatment for all the detainees whether in 
Guantánamo, Iraq or other hidden detention camps we can't reach."
/*-Sr. Anne Montgomery*, Marcher and member of Christian Peacemaker 
Teams in Iraq

/"The only thing standing between us and the Guantánamo prisoners is 
George Bush's permission."/         
-Gary Ashbeck with the Witness Against Torture
 


    The World Says No to Torture:
    Solidarity Vigils Today, International Human Rights Day


/Guantánamo, Cuba/ - Today, International Human Rights Day, a group of 
25 US Christians intent on arriving to the US Naval Base at Guantánamo 
to visit the prisoners are on the doorstep of the base. After three days 
of marching under the hot Caribbean sun, the US Christian group is less 
than twenty miles from the base.

Witness Against Torture includes two members of Christian Peacemaker 
Teams, Sr. Anne Montgomery and Danny Burns, and marches with the somber 
knowledge that four Christian Peacemakers are facing the threat of 
execution in Iraq. Also marching are Fr. Steve Kelly, S.J., and Frida 
Berrigan, daughter of renowned US peace activist Phil Berrigan.

*"There is a misconception that George Bush represents the interests of 
Christians,"* said Witness Against Torture spokesperson Mike McGuire. 
 *"The truth is many Christians are appalled by the policies of this 
administration.  There are Christians around the world standing for 
human rights and against injustice, putting their bodies in the way."
*
In June of this year, President Bush said to those concerned with the 
conditions in Guantánamo, "You're welcome to go down yourself... and 
take a look at the conditions."  Now a group of US Christians is calling 
his bluff.

After days of meetings with the Cuban authorities the US Christians now 
know that with US permission to visit the base, the Cubans will escort 
them through the Cuban militarized zone to the entrance.  They now await 
President Bush's word.  They are asking people to call on President Bush 
to grant permission for them to visit the prisoners.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's tour in Europe this week has 
focused world attention on the story of US torture and abuse.  The story 
deepened on Thursday with reports (San Francisco Chronicle) of a 
revealed US Defense Department memo that proves an explicit policy of 
rendition for torture.  

Rice's visit drew protests across Europe.  Today people across the 
United States are holding vigils to call for an end to torture, illegal 
and indefinite detentions, and the policy of "rendition."

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