Government should consider legal action over Guantanamo, says Campbell
The Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman has said that the Government should consider taking legal action over the treatment of British citizens held in Guantanamo Bay.
Sir Menzies Campbell, himself a QC, was commenting on the widely trailed speech by the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith.
Four British men are among the 600 being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Two of them, Feroz Abbasi and Moazzam Begg were on the initial list of six detainees who were to be tried in front of military tribunal.
The tribunal process is currently suspended pending ongoing negotiations about the men’s status and future.
In a speech on Friday, Lord Goldsmith made the most frank official criticism yet of the military tribunals, describing them as “unacceptable”.
In comments, broadcast on the BBC, he said: “There are certain principals on which there can be no compromise.”
“Fair trial is one of those, which is the reason why we in the United Kingdom have been unable to accept that the United States military tribunals proposed for those detained at Guantanamo offer sufficient guarantees of a fair trial in accordance with international standards.”
Lord Goldsmith does not make or represent official Government policy however his legal opinions carry significant weight within Downing Street.
The Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon, said this morning that the Government will study the legal advise closely, and that the fate of the Government is in continual dialogue on the fate of the Guantanamo prisoners.
Sir Menzies said: “The logic of the Attorney General’s position is overwhelming. The remaining British detainees should be immediately returned to the United Kingdom. If there is evidence to justify doing so, they should be put on trial.
“This issue has the potential to cause major damage to the relationship between London and Washington but the British Government cannot shirk its responsibility to its own citizens. If the positions were reversed the clamour from the White House and Congress would be loud and persistent.
“The British Government should now consider taking legal action in the United States to compel the return of its citizens.”
