Cageprisoners and partner NGOs refuse to cooperate with the UK Government's Detainee Inquiry.
Sara Carnegie
Solicitor to the Detainee Inquiry
35 Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BQ
3 August 2011
Dear Ms Carnegie
We refer to your letter of 6 July 2011 sent to nine of the ten organisations listed below and letter to Human Rights Watch dated 15 July 2011.
We have carefully considered the contents of the letters as well as the Terms of Reference and Protocol published on 6 July 2011. Plainly an Inquiry conducted in the way that you describe and in accordance with the Protocol would not comply with Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. We are particularly disappointed that the issue of what material may be disclosed to the public will not be determined independently of Government and, further, that there will be no meaningful participation of the former and current detainees and other interested third parties.
As you know, we were keen to assist the Inquiry in the vital work of establishing the truth about allegations that
UK authorities were involved in the mistreatment of detainees held abroad. Our strong view, however, is that the process currently proposed does not have the credibility or transparency to achieve this. If the Inquiry proceeds on this basis, therefore, and in light of indications from the lawyers acting for former detainees that they will not be participating, we do not intend to submit any evidence or attend any further meetings with the Inquiry team.
Yours sincerely
The AIRE Centre
Amnesty International
British Irish Rights Watch
Cageprisoners
Freedom from Torture
Human Rights Watch
Justice
Liberty
Redress
Reprieve
<p>Cageprisoners and partner NGOs refuse to cooperate with the UK Government's Detainee Inquiry.</p><p>Sara Carnegie<br />Solicitor to the Detainee Inquiry<br />35 Great Smith Street</p><p>London</p><p>SW1P 3BQ<br /><br />3 August 2011<br /> </p><p>Dear Ms Carnegie<br /> </p><p>We refer to your letter of 6 July 2011 sent to nine of the ten organisations listed below and letter to Human Rights Watch dated 15 July 2011.<br /> </p><p>We have carefully considered the contents of the letters as well as the Terms of Reference and Protocol published on 6 July 2011. Plainly an Inquiry conducted in the way that you describe and in accordance with the Protocol would not comply with Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. We are particularly disappointed that the issue of what material may be disclosed to the public will not be determined independently of Government and, further, that there will be no meaningful participation of the former and current detainees and other interested third parties.<br /> </p><p>As you know, we were keen to assist the Inquiry in the vital work of establishing the truth about allegations that<br />UK authorities were involved in the mistreatment of detainees held abroad. Our strong view, however, is that the process currently proposed does not have the credibility or transparency to achieve this. If the Inquiry proceeds on this basis, therefore, and in light of indications from the lawyers acting for former detainees that they will not be participating, we do not intend to submit any evidence or attend any further meetings with the Inquiry team.<br /> </p><p>Yours sincerely<br /> </p><p> </p><p>The AIRE Centre<br />Amnesty International<br />British Irish Rights Watch<br />Cageprisoners<br />Freedom from Torture<br />Human Rights Watch<br />Justice<br />Liberty</p><p>Redress</p><p>Reprieve</p>
