Amnesty International: Call on African governments to arrest George W. Bush
Former U.S. president George W. Bush began his visit to several African countries to promote the fight against breast cancer and HIV/AIDS. Amnesty International for its part urged the hosting governments of Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia to arrest Bush for crimes under international law.
During his legislation Bush was accused of being responsible for torture such as the method of waterboarding in the prison camp of Guantánamo. In a letter the group of activists addressed the Ministers of Justice of the host countries asking them to arrest George W. Bush and to start investigations. The organization said there was more than enough material in the public domain to introduce an investigation against the former U.S. president.
With its statement Amnesty International intends to push the fight against torture a step further. Bush already faced several arrest threats in the past. At the beginning of the year Bush had to cancel a trip to Switzerland where he faced great protest by Human Rights groups.
Matt Pollard, senior legal advisor of Amnesty International, reminded the host countries of their responsibility in the context of the Article 1 of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT):
All countries to which George W. Bush travels have an obligation to bring him to justice for his role in torture.”
He further added:
International law requires that there be no safe haven for those responsible for torture; Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia must seize this opportunity to fulfill their obligations and end the impunity George W. Bush has so far enjoyed.”
Zambia for its part welcomed Bush on his second stop questioning the reproach put forward by Amnesty International.
Read the full Statement of Amnesty International:
