US Republicans Insist on Maintaining the Base in Guantanamo Bay

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US Republicans Insist on Maintaining the Base in Guantanamo Bay
Fecha de publicación: 
12 April 2016
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The prison in the naval base in Guantanamo Bay, today, continues to be part of debates in US Congress as the result of new proposals to stop the closure of that jail.

The latest initiative was brought by the Republican, Lynn Jenkins, whose intention is to delay the transfer of prisoners out of the military camp until the 30th of September 2017 and at the same time prohibit the transfer of the prisoners to US soil.

Jenkins´proposition would prohibit the definite closure of the camp, which is located on Cuban soil against the will of the Cuban government. She also proposes that no funds be given for the purpose of modifying prisons on US soil to accommodate the prisoners from Guantanamo.

Presenting her ideas on Monday afternoon, Jenkins told her listeners that there are a considerable number of prisoners, who when freed, return to the field of battle. She felt that there is no justification for allow extremists who are a danger to the lives of US citizens to leave the base.

According to reports from the White House a little less than 5 percent of the prisoners that are freed from Guantanamo return to terrorist activities, however the Republican Party leadership put this figure at 30 percent.

A similar initiative was presented last week by the Republican legislator, Kelly Ayotte, a day after the Pentagon announced the transfer of 2 prisoners to Senegal, leaving 89 prisoners in the base.

The prisoners were Lybians, Salem Abdu Salam Ghereby (55), an expert in explosives and Omar Khalif Mohammed Abu Baker Mahjour Umar (44), the ex-chief of a terrorist training camp.

Since Obama began his mandate in 2009, he has promised to close Guantanamo Bay, however the opposition of the Republicans and sectors of the far-right have impeded his plans.

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