Guantanamo Detainees: EU must seize chance to demand justice

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 17th Nov 2003

Sarah Ludford is pictured with Azmet Begg, Stepehn Jakobi of Fair Trials Abroad and Peter Carter QC outside the European Parliament, before a public hearing which involved family members and supporters of EU citizens detained in Guantanamo Bay.

Ahead of an EU/US ministerial meeting attended by US secretary of State Colin Powell, London Euro-MP Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP is urging EU ministers to put the fate of Guantanamo Bay detainees - several of whom are her constituents - at the top of the agenda. There are about 25 Europeans incarcerated there.

Said Sarah, who is a European Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman and a member of the European Parliament's foreign affairs & human rights committee:

"Rather than European countries dealing bilaterally with the US, the EU must exert more leverage by making a joint protest to the Americans. They must insist that holding people without charge or trial at Guantanamo Bay, or subjecting them to military courts which can impose the death penalty, represents a gross breach of human rights which is severely undermining America's international reputation and moral authority."

"EU ministers must remind the Americans that transatlantic solidarity is based on our common core principles including respect for the rule of law and fair trial rights, and that failing to uphold justice makes a war on terrorism unwinnable."

"While it reflects credit on the US that the Supreme Court will hear appeals from the detainees - something the Bush administration should welcome, not deplore - this will not happen until next summer. The Europeans should still press the US to let detainees consult their own lawyers, put them before civilian courts, or release them."

"British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in Brussels, and Tony Blair meeting President Bush in London, ought to be leading the coordinated EU pressure since over half the European detainees are British. Unfortunately their hand and their will is weakened by UK detention without charge of a dozen people in breach of European human rights norms and in an echo of Guantanamo."

This important meeting, which takes place in Brussels during the afternoon of Tuesday 18 November, will bring foreign ministers from all EU states, including accession states, together with Colin Powell. EU external relations Commissioner Chris Patten and High Representative for foreign policy Javier Solana will also attend.