After 7 years at Gitmo, resettled Uyghurs grateful for freedom

[Jennicut]

HAMILTON, Bermuda (CNN) -- Two of four Uyghurs relocated to Bermuda after seven years of detention in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, denied Friday that they had ever been terrorists, and expressed gratitude toward President Obama for working to free them.
Salahidin Abdalahut and Kheleel Mamut were two of four Uyghurs released from Gitmo. Thirteen remain there.

Asked what he would say to someone who accused him of being a terrorist, one of the men, Kheleel Mamut, told CNN's Don Lemon, "I am no terrorist; I have not been terrorist. I will never be terrorist. I am a peaceful person."

Speaking through an interpreter who is herself a Uyghur who said she was sympathetic toward the men, the other man -- Salahidin Abdalahut -- described the past seven years as "difficult times for me ... I feel bad that it took so long for me to be free."http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/06/12/bermuda.uyghurs/index.html

I have been closely following this story and am so happy for these men to finally be free.

Some other interesting parts of the article:

Mamut accused the Bush administration of having held them without cause, and lauded Obama for having "tried really hard to bring justice and he has been trying very hard to find other countries to resettle us and finally he freed us."
He appealed to Obama to carry out his promise to shut Guantanamo Bay within a year. "I would like President Obama to honor that word and to free my 13 brothers who were left behind and all of the rest of the people who deserve to be free," Mamut said.

Mamut has a much better attitude then I would:

He cited a proverb from his homeland that means, "What is done cannot be undone."
Asked if he had anything to say to anyone watching, he said, "Thank you very much for those people who helped me to gain freedom."

I am so happy for them, hopefully the others will be free to go to Palau as the govt. there has already agreed to take many of them.
And good on Bermuda for taking these innocent men in.

[Xipe Totec]

1. That is so sad.

That just merely being out of Gitmo is enough to express gratitude.

Is it just me, or do other people understand just how bad things must be in Gitmo.

[Jennicut]

2. It put tears in my eyes really. They seemed to hold no feelings of revenge, just gratitude

or maybe after 7 years in a horrible prison they found a way to come to terms with what happened to them.

[vaberella]

3. You're not the only one to see that.

It's years upon years. I'm just happy they're out now. So that's one thing that's been done. Now we need that closed soon.

[NYC_SKP]

4. I doubt that where they came from was all teddy bears and love.

Of course Gitmo was an experience of unspeakable degradation and dehumanization, but I have to imagine that the life they led in China was no picnic.

Whatever the case, I'm really happy for them and I hope the years ahead are safe and filled with humanity and, maybe, a little joy.

:patriot:

[Jennicut]

5. I think so too. I think Bermuda is a perfect place for them to live.

I have been there before. Its not only beautiful but the people were very nice and accommodating as well. Its a small consolation price for these guys but at least it will be a better life for them.

[NYC_SKP]

7. I wish them well.

And hope they fair far better than many immigrants/refugees in my town.

Visiting a hmong student's home while I was a teacher was just a shocking experience.

The condition of their rental was just a crime, and in suburban California.

Worse than the worst I ever saw on the lower east side of NY, back when it was gritty.



"Best wishes, good friends, and please forgive us our illegitimate president and fearful ways."

:hug:

[jberryhill]

6. I was thinking...

...what might some folks do for a free ticket to settle in Bermuda or Palau?