Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Men With No Country
Although they are not enemy combatants, the two ethnic Uighurs look to be in Guantanamo Bay detention for a long time. Let me explain.
Uighurs are Chinese Muslims. These two, Abu Bakker Qassim and A'del Abdu al-Hakim, were picked up in Pakistan because they were thought to be Taliban fighters; but they were not, and Americans admitted that fact over a year ago. So why are they still in Guantanamo Bay detention?
Because we can't return them to China when we know China might persecute them, and we don't want to let them in out country (I've guess we've filled the quota of Chinese Muslims this year), and no other country will take them, they're pretty much stuck where they are.
So they sit in captivity in Cuba in a sort of protective custody. The Supreme Court turned down an appeal of their non-release on procedural reasons. This is part of the reason War is bad.
Uighurs are Chinese Muslims. These two, Abu Bakker Qassim and A'del Abdu al-Hakim, were picked up in Pakistan because they were thought to be Taliban fighters; but they were not, and Americans admitted that fact over a year ago. So why are they still in Guantanamo Bay detention?
Because we can't return them to China when we know China might persecute them, and we don't want to let them in out country (I've guess we've filled the quota of Chinese Muslims this year), and no other country will take them, they're pretty much stuck where they are.
So they sit in captivity in Cuba in a sort of protective custody. The Supreme Court turned down an appeal of their non-release on procedural reasons. This is part of the reason War is bad.
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 5:51 PM 
Comments:
<< Home
R,
As you know, I have family members that visit Uighar lands from time to time. What is inconceivable to me, other than the fact that the US just won't accept them and relocate them a la "My Blue Heaven" is that the US can't get anyone else to accept them. Not the Brits? Not some country in the Muslim Balkans? Not any of the Stans? Not our pal Turkey?
Something is fishy here. If we were in Denmark, I'd say it was rotten.
T
As you know, I have family members that visit Uighar lands from time to time. What is inconceivable to me, other than the fact that the US just won't accept them and relocate them a la "My Blue Heaven" is that the US can't get anyone else to accept them. Not the Brits? Not some country in the Muslim Balkans? Not any of the Stans? Not our pal Turkey?
Something is fishy here. If we were in Denmark, I'd say it was rotten.
T
# posted by 
: 10:37 AM
: 10:37 AM 
If they give them residency but no citizenship in the United States, would they have the right to sue the government for damages?
Maybe this is what they are thinking.
Another theory: they can't let them out because they would be the first non-arabs let out of Guantanamo. Their stories, therefore, would carry alot more weight with the general public irrespective of their veracity.
Maybe this is what they are thinking.
Another theory: they can't let them out because they would be the first non-arabs let out of Guantanamo. Their stories, therefore, would carry alot more weight with the general public irrespective of their veracity.
R & P,
I think we can't send them back to China as they will be prosecuted for something. Just ask, how did they get to where they were picked up and did they have permisssion of the Chinese government to be there? The answer to the latter is certainly no. Beijing is very far from whence these guys came but the arm of the Party is long, rapacious, and unforgiving.
The Uighars are pretty marginalized in China so these two guys telling their stories to their friends and neighbors is not an issue. Let's face it, if we are willing to let them go anywhere, they are are going to talk and I am sure any # of publications, right, left, and center, particulary left, I suspect, will be willing to stuff their Uighar hats w/ greenbacks, Euros, or dinars to get their stories. Uighar hats, by the way, are pretty cool looking. Next time you're over R, check out the one Karen gave Grace.
The only thing I can think of is that no country will take them b/c no country wants to PO the PRC over 2 Uighars but hey, what's a few Uighars between friends?
I wonder if W discussed them w/ Hu? I doubt it. But then the other thing I wonder is how did the White House issue press credentials to Wang Wenyi, a 47 year old natuaralized US citizen who works a s a journalist for the Epoch Times which is a publication affiliated w/ the spiritual movement, Falun Gong, which the government of the PRC has condemned as a cult has suppressed since 1999. Apparently, Wang had been issued credentials b/f and had not caused any problems, but those occasions had not been official state visits by the president of China.
I shouldn't wonder if a head will roll over this. At the very least fingers will be lopped off.
Post a Comment
I think we can't send them back to China as they will be prosecuted for something. Just ask, how did they get to where they were picked up and did they have permisssion of the Chinese government to be there? The answer to the latter is certainly no. Beijing is very far from whence these guys came but the arm of the Party is long, rapacious, and unforgiving.
The Uighars are pretty marginalized in China so these two guys telling their stories to their friends and neighbors is not an issue. Let's face it, if we are willing to let them go anywhere, they are are going to talk and I am sure any # of publications, right, left, and center, particulary left, I suspect, will be willing to stuff their Uighar hats w/ greenbacks, Euros, or dinars to get their stories. Uighar hats, by the way, are pretty cool looking. Next time you're over R, check out the one Karen gave Grace.
The only thing I can think of is that no country will take them b/c no country wants to PO the PRC over 2 Uighars but hey, what's a few Uighars between friends?
I wonder if W discussed them w/ Hu? I doubt it. But then the other thing I wonder is how did the White House issue press credentials to Wang Wenyi, a 47 year old natuaralized US citizen who works a s a journalist for the Epoch Times which is a publication affiliated w/ the spiritual movement, Falun Gong, which the government of the PRC has condemned as a cult has suppressed since 1999. Apparently, Wang had been issued credentials b/f and had not caused any problems, but those occasions had not been official state visits by the president of China.
I shouldn't wonder if a head will roll over this. At the very least fingers will be lopped off.
# posted by : 10:18 AM
: 10:18 AM << Home
