Plight of terrorist suspects put in focus by Watson

Date: 10/07/03

By Martin Banks

ITALY'S EU presidency has been urged to ensure that the rights of terrorist suspects facing secret US military tribunals in Guantanamo Bay are respected.

The demand follows news that two European detainees at Camp Delta in Cuba - both British citizens - will be among the first to face a military tribunal.

The plight of Moazzam Begg, 35, from Birmingham, and Londoner Feroz Abassi, 23, has raised concerns about other EU citizens being held on the island. Among the 600-plus detainees at the camp, at least 13 are from the Union.

The two Britons have reportedly been given a choice: plead guilty and accept a 20-year prison sentence - or be executed if found guilty.

Graham Watson, Liberal group leader in the European Parliament, says he is "deeply concerned" about the prisoners' dilemma and will raise the matter with António Vitorino, the justice and home affairs commissioner.

Watson was the author of reports on the anti-terrorist legislation drawn up by the EU in the wake of the 11 September 2001 terror attacks.

He told European Voice: "The military tribunals established by the US do not fulfil the standards guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and I am particularly concerned that such tribunals will be held in secret and the detainees could be condemned to death."

Under an extradition agreement recently concluded by the EU and the US, Europeans extradited to America must be tried in normal courts and cannot face the death penalty.

Graham Watson, Liberal group leader in the European Parliament, is to raise with António Vitorino, European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, the matter of two British citizens held by the US military at Camp Delta in Cuba since the Iraq War. The men will be among the first to face a military tribunal.