Ethiopian at Guantanamo
The Story of Benyam Mohammed
A few weeks ago, a group of high school presidential scholars for the year 2007 delivered a letter signed by 50 students asking George Bush to stop the practice of torture. The letter read:
"As members of the presidential scholars class of 2007, we have been told that we represent the best and brightest of our nation. Therefore, we believe we have a responsibility to voice our convictions. We do not want America to represent torture. We urge you to do all in your power to stop violations of the human rights of detainees, to cease illegal renditions and to apply the Geneva Convention to all detainees, including those designated enemy combatants."
It is against this backdrop that this story reverberates even more in the Ethiopian community. Not because an Ethiopian life is more valuable than an Afghan's, an Iraq's or any of the detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, but because sometimes a story hits home more effectively when it happens to one's own.
In recent months, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya were identified as the latest countries participating in the Bush administration’s policy of torture called ‘extraordinary rendition’ - a practice where terror suspects are kidnapped from around the world and are taken to what are called ‘black sites', which are torture sites run by the CIA for 'interrogation'. These black sites are located in countries ruled by some of the most brutal dictators. They include Pakistan, Egypt, Afghanistan, and Libya. These so called suspects are subjected to some of the most inhumane treatments in order to extract information to help the US administration's so called 'war on terror'.
So, it should not come as a surprise to anyone who is familiar with the Meles regime that Ethiopia would be a willing participant in this heinous practice. After all, Meles is known for stifling dissent, rigging elections and imprisoning and torturing his political opponents. One could only surmise that his impressive resume in this area must be the reason he was awarded this partnership with the US administration.
This is the story of Benyam Mohammed. Benyam was born in Ethiopia and moved to London when he was 14 years old. While in London, he experimented with drugs for a while and finally decided to clean himself up. To help him kick the habit, he converted to Islam and travelled to Afghanistan and Pakistan as sort of a pilgrimage. That trip changed Benyam's life forever. On April 10 2002, Benyam was arrested at the Karachi airport for travelling with a fake passport. According to the U.S. government, Benyam was sent to Pakistan by the Taliban to be trained on explosives. The U.S. military further charged that Benyam met Jose Padilla, the American suspected of plotting to blow up apartment buildings in Chicago using one of the deadliest weapons known to mankind... a kitchen stove! No joke - your regular, day to day, fry my eggs in the morning gas oven! Padilla has been in custody since May 2002, but was not formally charged until recently. His case went to trial a few weeks ago. Benyam was suspected of plotting with Padilla to blow up the apartment buildings in Chicago. And how strong is Mr Padilla's case? A U.S. District Judge told prosecutors last summer that their case was "light on facts", but Mr Padilla is still being held in isolation. After his arrest, Benyam was then moved to Morocco, one of CIA's 'black sites', where he was interrogated and tortured. He claims that he was coerced by the U.S. government into signing false incriminating statements with a promise that the torture would stop.
Benyam's story is depressing. The details of his torture are too gruesome. You can read about his case from the report by Amnesty International.
In his diary, Benyam detailed some of the torture methods used to get him to talk. Quoting one incident:
"They cut all over my private parts. One of them said it would be better just to cut it off, as I would only breed terrorists."
Here is the full article.
This is what’s being done, in our name, not just as Ethiopians, Americans, or Ethiopian-Americans, but as human beings - civilized human beings. This is what our home country has become a willing participant to. One could only imagine what is being done to prisoners in the secret prisons of Ethiopia both by the CIA and Meles’ thugs. When did Ethiopia, a country which was once known for its rich history and culture, become a accomplice to such crime on humanity?
Chereka
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Most states have laws and courts to deal with criminals – even for criminals that are involved in mass murder. The terrorist (violent acts for political ends) crimes committed by individuals are no different – but under the guise of a bogus war against “a concept” (terrorism) the fundamental nature of most states is subjected to the dictates of this bogus war – and those, particularly, in the formerly colonized world are made to suffer the continuation of tyrannical regimes.
This causal consequence is not a mystery – American policy makers say as much – but it is accepted. Do you remember the retrospective reasons that the West gave to their supporting of terrorists such as UNITA in Angola, Dictators like Mobutu in – then - Zaire and the Apartheid regime of South Africa (which was responsible for 1.5 million killings and $60 billion damages in neighboring Southern African countries)?
They said “we” (Western powers) needed to support them to stop … drum rolls … communism. It was Reagan and Magi Thatcher who referred to, now the darling of the West, Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress as “notorious terrorists.” Yet, without any shame President Reagan “the great communicator” described the radical Islamists that the US and its allies, Saudi Arabia included, recruited and trained in the mountains of Pakistan and Afghanistan to fight the Soviets –the so-called Taliban – he described them, as some of the Taliban nuts stood smiling with him, the “moral equivalents of the founding fathers.”
So, the past crimes committed against millions of Africans and peoples of the world are brushed aside and onto dusty bookshelves and without repentance and punishment for their actions the same powers, and in some cases the same personalities, are reborn in the 21st century under another “ism” and are TELLING us that we citizens must “understand” that there is a “need” to support Meles, Mubarak and the hordes of dictators littering our continent to fight and stop “terror-ism” (it’s not even an ideology)!
Shall thinking men and women accept this farce?
In my humble opinion the coming to light of the global network of torture sites located in states that practice torture on their own populations is a big relief to democracy advocates.
Despite the reporting by Western media of Ethiopia and Kenya's active participation in such a network it is th (Comment this)
It is sad to witness the extent to which Ethiopia has become a banana republic. I wonder under what rock our seasoned politicians, activists and intellectuals are hiding? Democracy in ET will always be partial and still born if all the dots are not connected - one dot being this malady of a banana republic serving as a torture center.
Despite the depressing prospect that our world is being turned into a receptacle for democratic torture regimes there are many brave people who stand up for peace and justice - I'm glad that our Cheraka is such a beacon.
Folks - please forgive me for the length of the post - therapy comes in many forms I hope mine has not caused some of you good people a headache.
Selam,
Tsion
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I also agree Chereka is doing a great deal of public service by shading light on issues like this. (Comment this)
"To help him kick the habit, he converted to Islam and travelled to Afghanistan and Pakistan as sort of a pilgrimage."
Mecca would have been a better place to go for pilgrimage? Come on people!
I certainly agree with Juru, that torture is inhumane by any kind of human standard or definition but let's not not use it to make a federal case out of it. Right now and tomorrow, many Ethiopians are being tortured in all places they settled. Look what the Sudanese government doing to the many of Ethiopians and Eritreans rounding them up in their attempt to deport thousands of them. Some of them had lived there for over 35 years and made life there as businesspersons. The Eritreans especially became victims as most of them are young men and women who fled the country to avoid being enlisted to fight At Esayas' war.
Sorry for being emotional to the subject.
Ketsela (Comment this)
Juru and Ketsela, it is not surprising to read what you wrote. I really don't blame you. Like Alem said, I think our minds have been so corrupted by this so called war on terror that we have pretty much concluded that anyone in such situations to be terrorists. Yes, why not? Why doesn't' one have the right to travel anywhere he or she wants? Let's put it this way. Let's say the situation the situation was reversed in that the world was dominated by a Moslem ideology or belief and you or any one of our Christian friends or relatives were making a trip to Kulbi as we often do and get detained in Harar by officials. Or say we are going to Jerusalem like many Ethiopians do every year, and one of us is detained because we are suspected of doing something, and yet the detainers have no evidence whatsoever? How would you feel about it? The fact remains that this guy had not committed any crime to be detained, let alone the torture he went though! What is the 'bad action' that he did? And if they have the evidence to prove it, why haven't they done it so far?
Tsion, what can I say...thank you thank you thank you! You know, it is really like you are were reading my mind. As part of my article, I wrote a line about the strange and like you put it, the deafening silence of the Ethio-bloggers regarding this issue and the so called war on terror, especially in light of the conflict in Somalia. I took it out because I thought it would sound too accusatory.
Your points are so right on the money! You have laid out the hypocrisy and criminal nature of this administration so perfectly, I don't have to add more. I loved you post. As for this administration being a remnant of the previous ones who tried to do the same and failed, I could not agree with you more. Not only did they call Mandela a terrorist, did you know that Cheney voted against a resolution to recognize the African National Congress (ANC) when he was in Congress? BTW he also voted against a holiday against MLK. And yes, Mr Reagan "the great communicator" was the one who started it all. I remember when he dedicated the launch of one of the space shuttles, I think it was The Endevor or something, to the 'Freedom Fighters" in Afghanistan, which BTW included Osama Bin Laden himself then. These people are just such hypocrites and worse, criminals!
Thanks for th kind words as well. I relly appreciate it.
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You seemed to misunderstand my points. Any act of torture be it on innocent people or criminals is inhuman. That being the case one can conclude two phases of explanation about this gentleman. First the trend of terrorist acts begins from the place one was destined to go. By no means Afghanistan id the Mecca of the Moslem world. Secondly, the mere conclusion by governments to labelling individuals based on their religion, nationality and physical statures are all subjective conclusions to suspect one this way or the other.
Chereka, it all becoming Ethiopian to oppose any and all government. Show me an article where we as an Ethiopians either in unison or individually supported wholeheartedly. I hope this statement will not lead readers to "me" being the supporter of the Bush-Cheney government. But ask all readers to first stop to look these leaders (globally speaking) as the ones who brought natural disasters, headache to the sick... let's be sensible and give credit where it is due.
Ketsela (Comment this)
We all could be influenced by the enviroment we're living in but, i don't think my profile fits as you suggested "corrupted mind". I think you're being naive in Mohammod's case here. Don't we all learned that good & evil from Harry Potter? :-) Mohammed could have gone Afganistan for humanitarian purpose or for "poppy" field trip, but the timing, who he had been contacted with,(let me be bruttaly honest here and his ehhhh....1st & last name combination is somthing weird about him) making feel suspicious. Hope, things will turn out for him for the better just like the way you portrayed him.
Thanks for the article. It's creating awarencess among blog readers the ugly side of torture. We all should be involved in Amenesty int. org. (oh! yes, i'm 100% guilty of using their address label and not becoming a member yet).
American secrete chamber of torture is sooooo... wrong and they should be ashamed, however, let's not loose track of the many INNOCENT people out there being tortured for no apparent reasons in our yard. (Comment this)
The one in Washington? the Islam phobic, condescending, incoherent one with racist attitude and policies towards Africa?? the one that still continues serves as a shield for Meles Zenawi by providing him with financial, military and political support?
or Meles Zenawi, the Crime Minister himself? the lawless, belligerent tyrant who believes in the law of the jungle over the rule of law?? the one that violates international law, massacres innocent Ethiopians, (and also Somalis) in cold blood, the regime that violates human rights, the sovereignty neighboring states?
which exactly are you saying we "should give credit to?" and for what? Please, do explain :) (Comment this)
Ketse, I am not opposing actions governments or other groups just for the sake of opposing them. When you see something that is unjust, whether it is from your government, other governments, or any other institution, I think we have the moral obligation to speak out. That’s all. I can’t show you an article Ethiopians in unison or individually supported wholeheartedly, because it doesn’t exist! Someone somewhere has a beef with something and I have no problem with that. In fact, I am glad that we do not support everything in unison. Questions and healthy skepticism are good. As for your comment about the leaders, then who do you think brought the sufferings like this one? I am not sure I get the question.
Juru, I was speaking more in general terms. I am glad to read that you don’t think your mind is corrupted. The more independent minds we have the better. But explain to me please where the naiveté is at? All of the points you made sound like they are just circumstantial evidences at best. Regardless, does it justify what happened to him? Also, don’t you think there is a reason why he and 99% of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay are not brought to trial? Because there is not enough evidence to convict them by law. The very few ones brought to trial have won their cases. The has not been one..not a single conviction that came from prisoners there. So, unless the so called civilized West has decided to operate in the same manner as the terrorists, there is no reason why these people are should not get their day in court.
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I felt that you're taking his threat to the society very ligthly and you're sympathsizing with him. I don't think he's a choir boy at least from what it was reported. This's the guy who wouldn't mind to blow my ass off on the air and it seems that you're not getting it. Guess what? My tax money feeds this guy three meals a day,i might add, culturally suitable dietry food to his religion, takes daily shower, has a prayer mat and so on. He's better off staying in Guantanamo than Ethiopian prison cell. Do you know the reason why they have not brought to trial? Because the law of the land could be interepreted "...it depends on what is, is?" and it costs you serious dough. So, i don't think we're ready for looonnggg world-wide publicized freaking trial. In my opinion, Guantanamo is not helping this country's image so, they should be send back to their home country and let them have a day in court. You think he's been treated badly at Guantanomo? just think a sec what would happen Ethiopian prison cell? Ouch!
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I agree with Cheraka and Mimi the issue is not about this young man's innocence or guilt but of the system of linked prisons described as the "offshore archipelago of injustice."
They are not brought to trial b/c the US is all powerful otherwise it is flaunting the Geneva Conventions (internatonal law). Think what would happen to a country like Ethiopia if it did something like that?
Actually, a convicted terrorist who blew up a plane full of people and has been wanted in Venezuela (http://www.embavenez-us.org/news.php?nid=2547)has been freed from US custody this past week and is Chilling in the warm sun of miami.
To "interpret" the law as they claim their doing is to take a lesson from Meles' playbook of dirty tricks.
Furthermore, states are not moral agents people are. It is the duty of people to think critically and hold the actions of their governments accountable to the recognized principles enshrined in a constitution and laws. Torture is not legal nor is it moral. The issue of torture is not about "image" it is about the legality and morality of such horrendous actions.
Anyway - I thought you might find these links touching on our discussion. Chereka - can't wait for your next topic!
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v29/n15/foot02_.html
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/135352/nick_turse_on_the_bush_planetary_lock_up
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DOCTORS Are The Third Leading Cause of Death in the US, Causing 250,000 Deaths EVERY YEAR
Number of deaths due to terroist acts? According to folks at globalsecurity.org it was less than 50 in 2005. Check it out at -
http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/report/2006/c-rprt-terrorism_2005-sup.htm
That being said - Cheraka - you need to get REALLY concerned about going to see your DOCTOR, God forbid you may never come back. You could pre-empt and make your doctor take her/his shoes off but that wont do squat.
Selam,
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I hope you're not saying that 50 deaths are not so bad comapre to thousands of malpractice cases? I would think your single life is as much important as many. I would leave it aside where the world gone wrong for another discussion, but speaking of torture I would love to think just as you just said "torture is not legal nor is it moral" but again, it depends on the circumstances, really. Should i say we need to use torture responsibly? Or, is there such a thing good or bad torture? In the early stage of war on terror, from many methods used, they use to make them listen hard heavy metal rock music, so young Mohammed may get intimidated by listening a good ethiopian church "Kidase" prayer and that would do the trick :-)
I guess, Americans are trying to be a world police and there's a lot to learn by trial and error because, this's the new thing and it won't be easy fighting an "idea".
In the mean time, i really, really hope that this young men would rehabilitate himself and one day would become a good citizen. There's a whole lot of life ahead of him waitting wherever he ends up. (Comment this)
You're right, the issue I've with Gitmo prisoners is the fact that only 10 of the 450 prisoners currently held there have been formally charged. Only 10!! That is alarming! and this adminstration's insistence that the detainees at Gitmo are "enemy combatants" to whom normal legal rules and protections, such as the Geneva Conventions, do not apply.....but hopefully, the Supreme Court ruling last month stating that international law does apply to "enemy combatants" will make a huge difference....but I'm sure Bush & Co. are drafting their own new rules to over ride that decision as we speak......so I just hope they close that place for once and for all, so abuse and mistreatment on Benyam and other detainees will stop! Even his former Secretary of State Powell has called for the immediate closure ..but they're far from caving in to pressure to shut their "Camp Delta", actually the Defense Department recently approved a 30 million dollar contract to expand the prison...so I'm not holding my breath, just yet.
and what I don't understand is if these detainees are as "hard-core terrorists" as they gov't claims, where is the evidence that shows it? why not prove their case in court?
Like Bush always says "...This is a war on terror that will continue for the rest of our lives..." So, are they going to hold these men in Guantanamo without charge, without access to lawyers, without access to their family members, indefinitely?
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All life is precious - but "threat" is based on actual people dying so the numbers of people being affected DOES matter.
The legal issue of torture AND the process of kidnapping citizens and sending them to be tortured in a gulag of a global network of jails is ILLEGAL under international law. Do you disagree? It is like saying that the legality of what the Nazi regime did was open to "interpretation."
As for your guess that America, being a global "police" (is that the same as an Empire), is just going through a phase of trial and error of torture techniques until they get it right - Wow - we are really living on different planets. Fait accompli - no need to bother even discussing the legal and ethical ramifications of not just torture but the GLOBAL TORTURE NETWORKS - since it is the "new thing." Who says?
According to all the major polls for the past several years, in the heat of the war on an "idea", a vast majority of people reject torture and the right to kidnap and torture people.
Amen to that!
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Amen sister! Txs for the feedback. I agree that the entire process of identifying and prosecuting suspected terrorists is actually not related to the long war - otherwise the need to isolate and convict them in a Kangaroo court would not be necessary. My rule of thumb is to look at the actions of the state and not what its singing about.
Selam,
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What makes our world beautiful is our differences. Until we've universal definations for what we commented above, we'll remain in our chosen planet.Your passion on the subject, your intention is very admirable. (Comment this)