| Show i Citizens speak up as s abuses come to light sp M 1 i I. I Joseph W. W Bateman Community Staff Writer Joining together in a nationwide nationwide nationwide nation nation- wide effort concerned citizens called on Congress to denounce the use of torture Descending upon the offices of Representative Jim Matheson Senators Orrin Hatch and Robert Bennett college professors sors a retired brigadier General and several other professionals embodying the Utah delegation delivered their torture anti-torture message message message mes mes- sage loud and clear At students display mixed reactions reactions reactions regarding the use of tor tor- tor- tor ture The current approach of throwing suspected terrorists and perhaps innocent bystanders in prison without the prospect of a trial by peers or even legal counsel is absolutely unacceptable and belies the democratic values this country should stand for said Linda M Marion ion a Utah delegation delegation delegation tion participant and managing L J J cl 2990 i y j r Lui edi editor I Rf o t it iy of gf Utah's alumni magazine The Continuum The group is taking aim at the practice of extraordinary renditions renditions renditions rendi rendi- which are the abduction and transfer of a person from one country to another Amnesty International the human rights group leading the charge against the use of torture avows that extraordinary renditions renditions renditions rendi rendi- are used solely for the covert transportation of persons to countries where interrogation and detention policies routinely use torture Amnesty also asserts that this practice clearly violates and undermines both US U.S. and international laws Our present denounce torture torture torture tor tor- tor- tor ture focus lies in the policy of extraordinary rendition in which detained individuals are sent to third countries for interrogation- interrogation often countries such as Syria Egypt Jordan that the State Department has officially cited for the routine use of torture writes Nancy Haanstad Weber State University Associate L Political I. I Science cie ce Professor and Utah Utah delegation coordinator in ina in ina a up follow-up letter During meeting with the delegation delegation delegation del del- Congressional representatives representatives representatives failed to reveal a position for or against the use of torture The up follow-up letter was sent asking for a clear position including a call for their Congressional support in decrying decrying decrying decry decry- ing torture and extraordinary renditions Across Europe the practice is straining international relations and causing a furor The Italian government issued criminal indictments to 22 CIA officers in the abduction of Egyptian cleric Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr According to The New NewYork NewYork NewYork York Times Nasr was walking down the street when the CIA arranged for a routine document check to distract Nasr's Nasr s atten atten- tion While distracted he was abducted transported to an Italian airbase and flown to Egypt After an undisclosed period of time he was released and phoned a relative complain- complain VI i t In ml JUU in ing of being tortured Soon on after aHer he was promptly re- re re- re abducted and imprisoned His whereabouts are currently unknown but is suspected of still being held in Egypt No longer top-secret top government government government govern govern- ment officials readily acknowledge acknowledge acknowledge edge the practice of extraordinary extraordinary extraordinary extra nary renditions Im not going to confirm that there have been any suspects sent to Egypt and Im I'm certainly not going to talk about the num num- bers Its It's intelligence activity and we just dont don't do that said Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in acknowledging sending suspects to their home countries but denying send suspects suspects suspects sus sus- to Egypt according to the Associated Press How many extraordinary renditions renditions renditions ren ren- like Nasr's have taken places is unknown Amnesty issued a report estimating the number of victims in the hun hun- Offenses continued on page 5 Human Rights Offenses not acceptable Continued from page 2 One extraordinary rendition victim cited is Mahar Arar Arara a Canadian citizen of Syrian to back to descent Traveling NewYork's New w in m Canada Arar was airport Yorks York's John F. F Kennedy detained and then he was when Jordan and fInally flown to bo both imprisoned in Syria In to tor tor- Dances being instances he reports 1 imprison imprison- imprisonment cured After a year outcry out out- u and public bl lawsuits P ment Canadian government the uie t cry where he e Sued secured his release with a remains still uncharged V. V crime The extraordinary rendition cases of Nasr Arar and others have students at displaying display display- ing both shock and approval If the US U.S. is torturing people people people peo peo- or condoning torture by using extraordinary rendition to send terrorists to other countries countries countries coun coun- tries that use torture it'll just fuel the fire tire There are more civil humane ways to deal with terrorism said Kiki a Political Science Alumni Brendon Shaver a Business Major felt the practice practice practice tice was necessary Extraordinary rendition is extremely effective It is another if want to win this er must you war on terror said Shaver The terrorists would do it if they had the chance with us Marion and the rest of the Utah delegation are calling for their Congressional Representatives to support bills introduced both in the House HR and Senate S. S If passed they feel these bills will restore the tattered international international international image of the United States Only with the passage of time and a complete condemnation condemnation condemnation nation of the practice on the part of the United States will we be able eventually to restore the country's reputation as a atrue atrue atrue true leader and a symbol of democratic values said Marion I- I |
