Naval Station Guantanamo Bay: Difference between revisions
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===Cuban Missile Crisis=== | ===Cuban Missile Crisis=== | ||
===Intelligence and surveillance=== | ===Intelligence and surveillance=== | ||
=== | === Prison Camp (extrajudicial) === | ||
During the later decades of the 20th Century the USA used the station to detain refugees from Cuba, [[Haiti]] and the [[Dominican Republic]]. | During the later decades of the 20th Century the USA used the station to detain refugees from Cuba, [[Haiti]] and the [[Dominican Republic]]. | ||
On January 11th, 2002 the USA opened | On January 11th, 2002 the USA opened the first of several camps on the base to hold prisoners that the [[George W. Bush|George W. Bush Administration]] captured during the [[Afghanistan War (2001-2021)]]. A total of 779 non-U.S. citizens were detained there without a general judicial or [[prisoner of war]] determination.<ref name=WashingtonPost20060712> | ||
{{cite web | {{cite web | ||
|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/11/AR2006071100094.html | |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/11/AR2006071100094.html | ||
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|publisher=Washington Post | |publisher=Washington Post | ||
|pages=A01 | |pages=A01 | ||
}}</ref> | }}</ref> Eventually (often after many years in detention), most were transferred to other countries (not the one in which they were captured) and released. As of April 2023, 30 remained there, and 9 had died while in custody. The vast majority were never charged with, much less convicted of, a crime.<ref name=update>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/02/02/guantanamo-prisoner-released-majid-khan/ In a rare move, U.S. release 'high-value' Guantanmo prisoner] by Missy Ryan, Washington Post, Feb. 2, 2023.</ref> | ||
|}'' | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
Revision as of 09:22, 8 March 2024
The United States of America is entitled, by treaty, to maintain Naval Station Guantanamo Bay on a 20 square kilometer parcel of land on the Southern coast of Cuba. The Station historically was used for coaling and other logistics, but has been used as a facility for the involuntary detention of various categories of people, from Haitian refugees to persons accused of terrorism. It has also been used as a forward base for naval patrols in the Caribbean.
History
The United Statest seized Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines from Spain, during the Spanish American War.
Treaty
When the USA allowed Cuba to become independent they signed a treaty with the new Government giving it a lease on the site.[1][2] The treaty allows the USA to use it as a Naval Base and Coaling Station, in return for rent of $4,000 per year. When Fidel Castro took power, fifty years ago, to show its opposition to the treaty, the Cuban Government stopped cashing the USA's rent checks.
Uses
Cuban Missile Crisis
Intelligence and surveillance
Prison Camp (extrajudicial)
During the later decades of the 20th Century the USA used the station to detain refugees from Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
On January 11th, 2002 the USA opened the first of several camps on the base to hold prisoners that the George W. Bush Administration captured during the Afghanistan War (2001-2021). A total of 779 non-U.S. citizens were detained there without a general judicial or prisoner of war determination.[3] Eventually (often after many years in detention), most were transferred to other countries (not the one in which they were captured) and released. As of April 2023, 30 remained there, and 9 had died while in custody. The vast majority were never charged with, much less convicted of, a crime.[4] |}
References
- ↑ Agreement Between the United States and Cuba for the Lease of Lands for Coaling and Naval stations. The Avalon project, Yale Law School (February 23, 1903). Retrieved on 2007-0.
- ↑ . The treaty was updated in 1934. Treaty Between the United States of America and Cuba. The Avalon project, Yale Law School (May 29, 1934). Retrieved on 2007-06-20.
- ↑ U.S. Shifts Policy on Geneva Conventions Bowing to Justices, Administration Says It Will Apply Treaties to Terror Suspects A01. Washington Post (2006-07-12).
- ↑ In a rare move, U.S. release 'high-value' Guantanmo prisoner by Missy Ryan, Washington Post, Feb. 2, 2023.