Thaindian News

Washington, Mar 8(ANI): US President Barack Obama has reversed his two-year-old order halting new military charges against detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The new order permits military trials to resume with revamped procedures, but implicitly admits the failure of his pledge to close the prison camp.

Obama said in a statement that he remained committed to closing Guantanamo someday and to charging some terrorism suspects in civilian criminal courts.

“The United States has worked to bring terrorists to justice consistent with our commitment to protect the American people and uphold our values,” the New York Times quoted Obama, as saying.

He said that the new procedures “broaden our ability to bring terrorists to justice, provide oversight for our actions, and ensure the humane treatment of detainees”.

Separately, for detainees who will not get trials, Obama set out new rules in an executive order requiring a review of their status within a year and every three years after that to determine whether they remain a threat, should be scheduled for a military trial or should be released.

The order also requires compliance with the Geneva Conventions and the international treaty that bans torture and inhumane treatment.

According to government figures, since the beginning of the Obama administration, the Defense Department has transferred 67 detainees from Guantanamo Bay to 24 destinations, including the transfer of 40 detainees to third countries.

Today’s total of 172 detainees is down from 242 when Obama entered office. About 500 detainees were released by the Bush administration, the paper reported. (ANI)