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News Digest 11/24/09 »

Thirty Organizations Join BORDC’s Coalition Letter on Torture and Transparency

November 24, 2009 at 3:19 pm by Amy E. Ferrer

Today, a coalition of 30 national and regional organizations representing a diverse array of interests wrote to President Barack Obama, calling on him to end continuing secrecy surrounding evidence of torture. Seeking the transparency repeatedly promised by the President, and the accountability for potential crimes required by international law, the coalition urged the administration to reconsider its refusal to disclose evidence of torture.

Specifically, the coalition’s letter requests that President Obama direct the Department of Defense to comply with court orders mandating disclosure of photos documenting detainee abuse, rather than exercise an authority recently granted by Congress to keep them secret. It also “explain[s] why transparency and robust accountability are a strategic national security imperative, and…expose[s] the self-interest of voices counseling against accountability.”

Organizations endorsing the letter represent a wide range of interests, including those of civil liberties supporters, marginalized communities, the peace and justice movement, religious and interfaith communities, medical professionals, and more. Initiated by the Bill of Rights Defense Committee (BORDC), the coalition also includes the Alliance for Justice, American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Center for Constitutional Rights, Coalition for an Ethical Psychology, Code Pink: Women for Peace, Progressive Christians Uniting, Veterans for Peace, and Witness Against Torture. The letter reads, in part:

However uncomfortable it may seem, you must allow the Department of Justice to deal openly with our nation’s crimes and deter their recurrence, and prevent the Department of Defense from suppressing evidence of its own misconduct. Our safety as a nation, as well as the legitimacy of our system of justice, the integrity of our intelligence services, and the strength of our international alliances all depend on your willingness to restore the rule of law by ensuring its equal application to all.

For another take on torture and accountability, see Andrew Sullivan’s letter to President George W. Bush in The Atlantic.

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10 Responses to “Thirty Organizations Join BORDC’s Coalition Letter on Torture and Transparency”

  1. johnhkennedy Says:
    December 1st, 2009 at 2:33 pm

    Keep up the pressure on AG Holder, Obama and especially on our Democratic Congress to call for Enforcement Of our Federal Anti-Torture Laws against the Bush-Cheney Torture Conspiracy.

    SIGN the PETITION
    calling for prosecutions

    http://ANGRYVOTERS.org

    .

  2. Shahid Buttar: The Failure of the Federalist, No. 10 | Obama Biden White House Says:
    December 2nd, 2009 at 5:54 pm

    [...] Our coalition went on to examine the impact of torture with impunity on several important groups of stakeholders: (a) the men & women of our armed forces and intelligence services, whose morale has been sapped by the protection of criminals among them; (b) our nation’s international allies, “many of which have voiced concerns about detainee mistreatment”; (c) civil society voices supportive of U.S. military deployments in areas where our legitimacy is contested; (d) and the “millions of Americans from all walks of life, demographics, professions, backgrounds, and communities who are appropriately appalled by the CIA’s abuses.” [...]

  3. Secret reports, Secret budgets, Secret operations, Secret courts … A Secret Government! by Sibel Edmonds « Dandelion Salad Says:
    December 14th, 2009 at 1:13 pm

    [...] recent developments on the release of torture pictures is another good example: Specifically, the coalition’s letter [...]

  4. Secret Reports, Secret Budgets, Secret Operations, Secret Courts … a Secret Government! « COTO Report Says:
    December 14th, 2009 at 2:04 pm

    [...] recent developments on the release of torture pictures is another good example: Specifically, the coalition’s letter [...]

  5. The Makings of a Police State-Part IV « Norcaltruth Says:
    December 14th, 2009 at 11:54 pm

    [...] recent developments on the release of torture pictures is another good example: Specifically, the coalition’s letter [...]

  6. Secret Reports, Secret Budgets, Secret Operations, Secret Courts… A Secret Government! | The Aperio Movement Says:
    December 15th, 2009 at 11:39 am

    [...] recent developments on the release of torture pictures is another good example: Specifically, the coalition’s letter [...]

  7. A Secret Government - The Freedom Rider Says:
    December 15th, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    [...] recent developments on the release of torture pictures is another good [...]

  8. A Secret but All Knowing Government: The Government that knows everything about us makes sure we know nothing about it; and that is why Barack Obama’s citizenship is such a sinister issue: the government that lives by its secrets will probably die b Says:
    December 16th, 2009 at 10:44 pm

    [...] recent developments on the release of torture pictures is another good [...]

  9. A Secret but All-Knowing Government: The Government that knows everything about us makes sure we know nothing about it; and that is why Barack Obama’s citizenship is such a sinister issue: the government that lives by its secrets will probably die b Says:
    December 17th, 2009 at 4:11 am

    [...] recent developments on the release of torture pictures is another good [...]

  10. Secret reports, Secret budgets, Secret operations, Secret courts … A Secret Government! Says:
    December 17th, 2009 at 11:49 am

    [...] recent developments on the release of torture pictures is another good example: Specifically, the coalition’s letter [...]

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