[Peace] Fwd: Help Support Investigation into Rumsfeld War Crimes

[Belden Fields]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Center for Constitutional Rights  
> <ccr at mail.democracyinaction.org>
> Date: November 15, 2006 9:01:28 AM CST
> To: a-fields at uiuc.edu
> Subject: Help Support Investigation into Rumsfeld War Crimes
> Reply-To: ccr at mail.democracyinaction.org
>
>
> Dear A. B. Fields,
>
> If Donald Rumsfeld is going to be held accountable for authorizing  
> torture and other human rights abuses, we need your help .
>
> Today, CCR filed a criminal complaint in Germany under their  
> universal jurisdiction law charging Rumsfeld, Gonzales and other  
> high-ranking officials in the Bush administration with war crimes .  
> The complaint was filed on behalf of 11 former detainees who were  
> victims of severe beatings, sleep and food deprivation, hooding and  
> sexual abuse in Abu Ghraib, and one detainee at Guantánamo Bay  
> subjected to torture and abuse there under Rumsfeld’s specific  
> authorization.
>
> By clicking on the link here, you can send a letter to the German  
> Prosecutor and show your support for justice for torture victims  
> and accountability for perpetrators.
>
> WHY RUMSFELD?
> CCR has reviewed new evidence and documentation that lays the  
> responsibility for U.S. torture program directly at Rumsfeld’s  
> feet. Rumsfeld himself authorized severe “special interrogation  
> techniques” and other abusive, unlawful treatment of detainees.  
> Rumsfeld’s resignation last week means that he can no longer claim  
> immunity from international prosecution as a sitting government  
> official.
>
> WHY GERMANY?
> Germany appears to be the court of last resort for a war crimes  
> prosecution of Rumsfeld because the United States has tried to  
> close the door to accountability. For example, the United States  
> has failed to take any action to investigate high-level involvement  
> in the torture program; Congress passed the Military Commissions  
> Act last month, which tries to shield American officials from being  
> prosecuted for war crimes here; and the United States has refused  
> to join the International Criminal Court and has barred the Iraq  
> from prosecuting U.S. officials in that country.
>
> On the other hand, as a signatory to the treaty establishing the  
> International Criminal Court, German law recognizes the principle  
> of universal jurisdiction: that grave breaches of international law  
> like the U.S. torture program authorized by Rumsfeld, must be  
> investigated and, where called for, prosecuted no matter where the  
> crime was committed or the nationality of those involved. CCR has  
> filed this complaint in Germany because we represent torture  
> victims who have yet to see justice, the truth has yet to be  
> investigated and the United States is evading accountability.
>
> Together we can make a difference. Stand with our plaintiffs who  
> include Nobel Peace Prize winners and the former United Nations  
> Special Rapporteur on Torture and tell the German Prosecutor that  
> you support opening an investigation. With your support, we can  
> show the world community that Americans think torture is immoral  
> and illegal, and that its perpetrators -- wherever they are found  
> -- must be held accountable. Act now.
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Vincent Warren
> Executive Director
>
>
>
> For more information, please visit our website at www.ccr-ny.org .
>
> If you would like to support CCR’s important work to stop the Bush  
> administration from operating outside the law, Click here .
>
> See a calendar of events.
>
> To be removed from this list, reply to this message with  
> "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
>
>
>

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