Three Guantanamo detainees in Slovakia reported to be on a hunger-strike

Three former detainees from Guantanamo Bay (Gitmo) who were transferred to Slovakia on January 25 are on a hunger strike, the TASR newswire was told on June 24 by Branislav Tichý, the director of Amnesty International Slovensko (AIS). He said the three are protesting bad conditions and the treatment they are receiving from Slovak authorities in a detention facility in Medveďov in Trnava Region. Tichý said that AIS was informed about the alleged poor treatment by one of the detainees who spoke to AIS employees by telephone on Thursday morning, June 24. According to Tichý, the detainees are not allowed contact with anyone except for personnel in the facility and their lawyer. Tichý described their living conditions as poor – having only beds and a sink at their disposal and being allowed to leave their rooms for only an hour per day.

Three former detainees from Guantanamo Bay (Gitmo) who were transferred to Slovakia on January 25 are on a hunger strike, the TASR newswire was told on June 24 by Branislav Tichý, the director of Amnesty International Slovensko (AIS). He said the three are protesting bad conditions and the treatment they are receiving from Slovak authorities in a detention facility in Medveďov in Trnava Region.

Tichý said that AIS was informed about the alleged poor treatment by one of the detainees who spoke to AIS employees by telephone on Thursday morning, June 24. According to Tichý, the detainees are not allowed contact with anyone except for personnel in the facility and their lawyer. Tichý described their living conditions as poor – having only beds and a sink at their disposal and being allowed to leave their rooms for only an hour per day.

There is no reason for three former detainees to be on a hunger strike, according to Bernard Priecel, the chief officer at the Interior Ministry's Migration Bureau. “Their long-term advocates came here to visit them ... saying that Slovakia provides high-standard care to them in the initial phase of their re-integration process,” said Priecel, adding that AIS will be allowed to get in touch with the attorneys.

Priecel said that all three detainees enjoy high standards in terms of both security and the re-integration process itself and are receiving personal treatment eight hours a day, including psychological care and lessons in the Slovak language. Priecel stated that they do socialise, use cell phones and have an internet connection available.

Slovak authorities are currently deciding on what legal status the three detainees will be granted. The decision is due to be released in forthcoming days, Priecel told TASR.

Source: TASR

Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.

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