AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, October 22, 2009

Amnesty International Calls Changes to Military Commissions in FY10 National Defense Authorization Act "Futile"

Focus should be on trials in civilian federal courts, not on tinkering with an inherently flawed system, says human rights organization

Contact: AIUSA media relations office, 202-544-0200 x302

(Washington) –Vienna Colucci, Amnesty International USA’s managing director for policy, issued the following statement in response to Congress’ passage of the FY10 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that revises the rules for military commissions used to try detainees at the U.S.-controlled detention facility at Guantanamo Bay:

“Detainees brought to trial under the military commissions are still in a position where their full rights will not be guaranteed, even with these changes. Any detainees who are to be charged should be brought to trial in federal court without further delay.

“The United States has a perfectly sound system to try any and all detainees – federal civilian courts. Whatever revisions have been made to the rules of the military commissions does not change the fact that the system lacks the legal protections offered in U.S. civilian courts. They have been used to bring other terror suspects to justice, and there is no reason why these courts cannot continue to do so.”

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.2 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.

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Sharon Singh
Media Relations Director
Amnesty International USA
Washington DC 20003
(o) 202.544.0200x289
(m)202.459.8703

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