Chad's Human Rights Letter

January 22, 2008

Dear Senator Souder,

I would like to bring to your attention something horrible and inhumane that our government is doing that needs to be changed right now. This problem is the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. We are illegally holding possible terror suspects there. They are facing torture, ill-treatment, cruel living conditions, and are being held against their will even though there are no official criminal charges against them. What is horrifying to fathom is that the country that both of us live in is using these illegal practices, even though they are prohibited by international law. In addition, our country had a big hand in creating these international laws that we are egregiously breaking.

We, the people of the U.S., need to correct this problem. Our country claims that we are an example to the rest of the world, but right now the U.S. Government is being hypocritical and ignoring all the laws set in place about justice, fairness, and our own clause of “innocent until proven guilty.”

The ways to correct this situation are, first, to close Guantanamo Bay as a sign that the U.S. is changing for the better and to continue to close all secret U.S. detention facilities. Second, release immediately all prisoners that have no charges against them. Third, allow the previously-rejected UN experts and human rights organizations access to Guantanamo Bay. Fourth, repeal the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and create a law that guarantees the rights to a fair trail, habeas corpus, and punish those people and/or governments that violate basic innate human rights.

These ideas are not innovative. They are only solutions to reinstate the inalienable rights of all humans. I believe every human should be treated with fairness, dignity, and equality, even if that person might be suspected of a crime against our country. When and if a criminal charge is made against one of the suspected terrorists, then there should be a fair and transparent trial. Nothing secretive and nothing against the established international laws governing war and justice should be tolerated.

If you have any other questions about this problem, then consult Amnesty International’s website, amnesty.org, about more details and ideas. Thank you for your service to this country by addressing this deplorable and horrifying issue of Guantanamo Bay, as well as many other issues that you already have fixed.

Sincerely,

Chad M. Simpson

Fort Wayne, IN

Wabash College, Class of 2010