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CNN Live Saturday
Six Gitmo Prisoners Face Military Tribunals
Aired July 05, 2003 - 12:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: More than 600 prisoners in the war against terrorism are being held at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo, Cuba. Now, the first six, whom the U.S. government calls "enemy combatants," are facing military tribunals. It could lead to possible death sentences if they are convicted. Two of the men are British citizens, and as CNN's Diana Muriel reports, there's some doubt that the men will get a fair trial.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIANA MURIEL, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a long way from this South London house to a U.S. military cell at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay. But, that's where former resident, Feroz Abbasi, is being held after taking the road from here to Afghanistan. The former computer student is alleged to have fought for the Taliban in support of al Qaeda, there. Britain's foreign office has confirmed Abbasi, together with fellow British national Moazzam Begg, also being held on suspicion of being an al Qaeda terrorist are due to be among the first Guantanamo Bay prisoners to face trial by U.S. military tribunals. Moazzam Begg's father spoke of his fears got hid son.
AZMAT BEGG, FATHER OF PRISONER: Since he is innocent and hasn't done anything wrong, he should come out clear, if proper justice is done. But, I don't expect proper justice from the military codes.
MURIEL: The proceedings are designed by the Pentagon to be held under extraordinary security, even secrecy, but the normal U.S. rules of evidence relaxed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It amounts to a totally rigged situation, the Defense Department of the United States chooses the rules of the game, the judges, the prosecutors, and the defense lawyers and any similarity between that and international rules of fair trial escape me.
MURIEL: Other legal scholars say the U.S. tribunals are appropriate and that the U.S. has gone to lengths to make this system fair. The United States last used this kind of military court in the aftermath of the Second World War. Historically, they've ended in convictions. Officials at Guantanamo Bay are reported to have already begun planning the construction of court facilities and have proposed a death chamber as the prisoners may face the death sentence if convicted. British ministers have launched urgent appeals to reverse the decision to build the execution facility. Concern, in Britain, where there is no death penalty is widespread and growing. BARONESS SYMONS, BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE: If there is a suggestion the -- that they may be resort to the death penalty the British government will object very strongly
MURIEL: Tough talking, however, may not be enough to change the rules of the tribunal. The United States, which refers to the Guantanamo Bay inmates as enemy combatants and not prisoners of war, is keen to get justice. Even if the outside world may not see just how that justice is done.
Diana Muriel, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 5, 2003 - 12:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: More than 600 prisoners in the war against terrorism are being held at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo, Cuba. Now, the first six, whom the U.S. government calls "enemy combatants," are facing military tribunals. It could lead to possible death sentences if they are convicted. Two of the men are British citizens, and as CNN's Diana Muriel reports, there's some doubt that the men will get a fair trial.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIANA MURIEL, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a long way from this South London house to a U.S. military cell at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay. But, that's where former resident, Feroz Abbasi, is being held after taking the road from here to Afghanistan. The former computer student is alleged to have fought for the Taliban in support of al Qaeda, there. Britain's foreign office has confirmed Abbasi, together with fellow British national Moazzam Begg, also being held on suspicion of being an al Qaeda terrorist are due to be among the first Guantanamo Bay prisoners to face trial by U.S. military tribunals. Moazzam Begg's father spoke of his fears got hid son.
AZMAT BEGG, FATHER OF PRISONER: Since he is innocent and hasn't done anything wrong, he should come out clear, if proper justice is done. But, I don't expect proper justice from the military codes.
MURIEL: The proceedings are designed by the Pentagon to be held under extraordinary security, even secrecy, but the normal U.S. rules of evidence relaxed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It amounts to a totally rigged situation, the Defense Department of the United States chooses the rules of the game, the judges, the prosecutors, and the defense lawyers and any similarity between that and international rules of fair trial escape me.
MURIEL: Other legal scholars say the U.S. tribunals are appropriate and that the U.S. has gone to lengths to make this system fair. The United States last used this kind of military court in the aftermath of the Second World War. Historically, they've ended in convictions. Officials at Guantanamo Bay are reported to have already begun planning the construction of court facilities and have proposed a death chamber as the prisoners may face the death sentence if convicted. British ministers have launched urgent appeals to reverse the decision to build the execution facility. Concern, in Britain, where there is no death penalty is widespread and growing. BARONESS SYMONS, BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE: If there is a suggestion the -- that they may be resort to the death penalty the British government will object very strongly
MURIEL: Tough talking, however, may not be enough to change the rules of the tribunal. The United States, which refers to the Guantanamo Bay inmates as enemy combatants and not prisoners of war, is keen to get justice. Even if the outside world may not see just how that justice is done.
Diana Muriel, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
