First Algerians repatriated
Posted on Thu, Jul. 03, 2008
BY CAROL ROSENBERG
BRENNAN LINSLEY / ASSOCIATED PRESS
The sun rises over the razor-wired detention compound called Camp Delta at the U.S. Navy Base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
In a first, the Pentagon said this week it sent home two Algerians from the Guantánamo Bay detention center.
The latest transfer operation from the remote U.S. Navy base in southeast Cuba reduced the prison camp population to ''approximately 265,'' according to a Pentagon statement issued late Wednesday.
It made no mention that this was the first repatriation of an Algerian citizen since the Defense Department opened the prison camps in January 2002.
Earlier this year, the Defense Department deputy in chargeof detainee affairs said in an interview that the Bush administration had failed to persuade Algeria to take home any of its nationals.
''[The Algerians] simply decided that they do not want to accept back any of the detainees from the United States,'' she said. She called it ``discouraging.''
Last summer, she said, Washington and Algiers agreed on repatriation of a number of Algerians she would not quantify. Then the North African nation reversed course.
There was no immediate explanation for the breakthrough from either side.
In fact, the Pentagon used identical language as other more routine transfers in announcing the release.
'The transfer is a demonstration of the United States' desire not to hold detainees any longer than necessary,'' it said.
Like the others, it labeled such a release ''while hostilities are ongoing'' as ``an unprecedented step in the history of warfare.''
Lawyers who have worked on detainee rights cases identified the two men as Mustafa Hamlily, 49, born in Bashare, Algeria and Abdul Raham Hourari, 28, of Algiers.
Join the discussion
The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Not a registered user? It's Free!
Register here. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.
