Lithuania considers to accept two Guantamano inmates
February 13, 2009 at 2:29 pm 1 comment
Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Usackas announced that on February 4 Lithuania has received an official USA request to accept two Guantanamo prisoners. The USA department maintains that the inmates will not cause any threat to the Lithuanian national security.
According to the Minister Lithuania will wait for those inmates to apply for a political asylum in Lithuania. Mr Usackas would not disclose nationality of the inmates though later he assured that those inmates are not Chinese. According to Delfi.lt the Chinese Embassy in Vilnius has asked Lithuania not to accept the Chinese inmates. Some of the sources are saiying that they are Uzbeks.
The USA Embassy in Vilnius has issued a statement on Feb 12:
As demonstrated by President Obama’s order to close Guantanamo, resolving this issue is a high priority for this Administration. As we have stated, we look forward to working with our international partners toward the shared objective of closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. We welcome statements by Prime Minister Kubilius and Foreign Minister Usackas and are looking forward to discussing this issue with the Government of Lithuania.
The initial information about Lithuania’s resolve to accept the inmates was that Lithuania was ready to accept ten inmates.
Entry filed under: Baltic States, Estonia, EU, Latvia, Lithuania, Northern Europe, Politics, Terrorism, USA. Tags: .
1.
Vidas | February 16, 2009 at 6:20 am
I dont understand this at all.
The Guantanamo detainees have no clear legal status. They have not been accused of any crime against society – let alone found guilty of anything at trial. Of the thousands who have found themselves at Guantanamo – all but a number of hundred have been released – which doesnt convince me of the implied evil of the remaining detainees.
Had these remaining detainees been found guilty of – something – at trial, I could understand international participation in their detention.
If Lithuania considers participating in the continued detention of these people – what establishes its jurisdiction ? What legal right does Lithuania have to detain them ? Will Lithuania be stuck with the bill yet again when this question gets presented before the ECHR – and loses ?
On the question of jurisdiction Lithuania will certainly lose.
Detaining Guantanamo combatants is a terrible idea for Lithuania from every possible angle and consideration.