US BILL up this week would ALLOW TORTURE for evidence, long-term holding

[Nothing Without Hope]

The defense spending bill has been held up because of the successful fight over the ANWR drilling provision that had been slipped into it, but the article I've excerpted here says that the policy bill including this appalling torture provision " is expected to get Senate approval."

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?feed=FT&Date=20051220&ID=5366198
December 20, 2005 03:12 AM ET

US law would let torture be used for evidence

Congress could approve this week legislation that would permit indefinite detention of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay based on evidence obtained through torture.

The law would allow military judges at Guantánamo to consider whether evidence obtained by coercive methods was admissible in determining whether a prisoner should be classified as an "enemy combatant".

The measure, included in two defence bills already approved by the House and awaiting Senate approval, would also restrict the rights of prisoners at the detention centre to appeal against their detention to US courts.

(snip)

"{The measure} implicitly allows the use of evidence that is obtained through torture for the first time ever in American history," said Jennifer Daskal, US advocacy director for Human Rights Watch. " it cuts off one of the best enforcement and monitoring mechanisms of the McCain amendment because it prohibits detainees from ever bringing any suit alleging that they have been tortured or abused."

(snip)

Said Jennifer Daskal, US advocacy director for Human Rights Watch: "The most dramatic story is that the same legislation that passes the McCain amendment – which is this historic bill on torture – has this other provision, which undercuts it in two ways."

If passed, detainees could appeal to US courts ONLY AFTER being sentenced to death, declared enemy combatants, or for MORE THAN 10 (TEN) YEARS' IMPRISONMENT.

It would allow the military judges to decide whether evidence obtained by torture was admissable in cases.

Detainees would be forbidden to EVER sue over their allegations that they were tortured or abused.

THIS APPALLING, MONSTROUS BILL REVISION IS THE GRAHAM-LEVIN AMENDMENT. SEE THE FULL HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH PRESS RELEASE IN REPLY #7.

THIS MUST MUST MUST NOT PASS!!!!