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Obama to Restart Gitmo Tribunals

But this time, suspects will have more rights, legal protections

By the Associated Press

Posted May 15, 2009 6:21 AM CDT
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(AP) – President Obama will restart military tribunals for a small number of Guantanamo detainees—reviving a trial system he once said the Bush administration had abused—but with new legal protections for terror suspects, officials said. The trials will remain frozen for another 4 months as the administration adjusts the legal system that is expected to try fewer than 20 of the 241 Guantanamo detainees; 13 are already in the tribunal system.

Two senior administration officials said changes include:

  • Restrictions on hearsay evidence that can be used in court against the detainees.
  • A ban on all evidence obtained through cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. This would include statements given from detainees who were subjected to waterboarding.
  • Giving detainees greater leeway in choosing their own military counsel.
  • Protecting detainees who refuse to testify from legal sanctions or other court prejudices.

In this photo, reviewed by the US military, Guantanamo detainees pray before dawn near a fence of razor-wire, inside Camp 4 detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Thursday, May 14, 2009.
In this photo, reviewed by the US military, Guantanamo detainees pray before dawn near a fence of razor-wire, inside Camp 4 detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Thursday, May 14, 2009.   (Brennan Linsley)
In this 2008 courtroom drawing reviewed by the military, one-time Office of Military Commissions legal advisor Brigadier General Thomas Hartman, far right, testifies in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
In this 2008 courtroom drawing reviewed by the military, one-time Office of Military Commissions legal advisor Brigadier General Thomas Hartman, far right, testifies in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.   (Janet Hamlin)
In this photo, reviewed by the U.S. military, the exercise yard at Guantanamo's Camp 4 detention facility is pictured before dawn, at Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base, Cuba, Thursday, May 14, 2009.
In this photo, reviewed by the U.S. military, the exercise yard at Guantanamo's Camp 4 detention facility is pictured before dawn, at Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base, Cuba, Thursday, May 14, 2009.   (Brennan Linsley)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
kokuaguy
May 15, 2009 5:09 AM CDT
Time for the "liberals" to weigh in or we will be accused of hypocrisy by the cyber-trolls and web zombies. Imagine how differently the U.S. would have been perceived if a system of tribunals such as this had dealt with the problem 5 or 6 years ago. The rest of the world doesn't expect the U.S. to be perfect, but when we lecture everyone else on how "democratic" we are and how the jihadists hate us for our freedoms-- then we torture and imprison people indefinitely without a chance to prove their innocence-- we should expect even our allies to react negatively.
Robert_Dada
May 15, 2009 1:37 AM CDT
Finally, we're closer to living up to the ideals that make this a great nation.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 
military tribunal • Guantanamo Bay • Obama administration • Guantanamo tribunals • President Obama • Jay-ZTV

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