Domestic

Domestic

Dick Marty presents his second report on secret detentions in Europe

06 June 2007 16:43 (UTC +04:00)

Following several months of additional investigation, Dick Marty (Switzerland, ALDE), rapporteur of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), is due to present his second report on â€œAlleged secret detentions and illegal inter-state transfers involving Council of Europe member statesâ€ to the Assembly’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights in Paris on Friday 8 June 2007, APAâ€™s Europe bureau reports.
The meeting is closed to the press, but if the report is approved by the committee, it will be made public on this occasion. Mr Marty will also give a press conference at 2 p.m. Commenting on the draft, Mr Marty said: â€œMy first report focused mainly on illegal inter-state transfers and extraordinary renditions. This second report will focus mainly on the other part of my mandate â€“ secret detentions.â€
The report, if approved, is scheduled for debate by the 318-member Assembly, bringing together parliamentarians from all 47 Council of Europe member states, on Wednesday 27 June 2007, during its June plenary session in Strasbourg.
â€œAfter more than five years, the US authorities are still failing to provide any semblance of justice for the alleged terrorists detained at GuantÃ¡namo Bay,â€ said PACE President RenÃ© van der Linden today, following the US military courtâ€™s ruling that it lacked jurisdiction over the detainees.
â€œThe Military Commissions Act has been shown to be just as unworkable as the system it replaced,â€ continued President van der Linden. â€œBy seeking to exclude legal safeguards provided by the US Constitution and international law, the US government is both flaunting justice and undermining the fight against terrorism.â€ /APA/