6th detainee refuses a military hearing (Guantanamo)

[Rose Siding]

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba -- An Iranian detainee refused to appear at a U.S. military review hearing Friday, the sixth prisoner in a week to boycott a process to determine whether hundreds of Guantánamo Bay prisoners are being properly held or should be set free.

The 25-year-old man, who according to the U.S. military was a Taliban fighter in Afghanistan, relayed his decision through an officer assigned as his ``personal representative.''

''He dropped out,'' said the officer, an Air Force lieutenant colonel whose identity was barred from being made public. 'He said, `I don't want to participate anymore.' ''

The officer said the Iranian did not give a reason.

The detainee has told the military he was a cook and driver and wasn't involved in combat. In his absence, the open tribunal hearing lasted only 13 minutes, followed by a closed session to discuss classified information.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/9341759.htm

[teryang]

1. they still can't even get the terminology straight

The proper term is "illegal enemy combatant." An "enemy combatant" is a POW by definition. An "illegal enemy combatant" is a criminal. One who is neither is merely a detainee, who can be returned to his mother country at the discretion of the detaining power while hostilities are pending. If the mother country is an ally or non belligerent power, there is no reason to hold the detainee.

The tribunal screening process is a joke with secret evidence undisclosed to the party evaluated who has no legal representation.

[psychopomp]

2. No access to a lawyer

They may have not opted out at all. We will not know as long as the Pentagon has them.