Sarah Teather, the Liberal Democrat MP who has campaigned for her constituent Jamil el-Banna to be released from Guantanamo Bay, today welcomed the news that he is among five people the Government has requested be released from the camp.

Commenting, Sarah Teather, who is also Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Guantanamo Bay, said:

“This is fantastic news and a tremendous relief for Jamil’s family here in London. Jamil’s youngest daughter will be meeting her dad for the first time. They have shown incredible bravery, strength and determination.

“This decision should have been taken years ago. Abandoning British residents to indefinite imprisonment in obscene conditions was a gross dereliction of duty by the Government.

“Guantanamo Bay is an insult to democracy and a violation of the principles the war on terror purports to defend. Many questions remain over the Government’s complicity in the abduction and imprisonment of Jamil.

“But today is a time for celebration that, for these British residents and their families, the horror of Guantanamo is now almost over.”

Liberal Democrat Leader Menzies Campbell added:

“This is a belated recognition of our moral responsibility towards these men.

“Up to now the Government’s attitude has been supine in the face of systematic violation of all known legal principles.

“It has been left to opposition MPs to make the case for their return to the UK.”

Ahead of Tony Blair’s last visit to Washington as Prime Minister, Liberal Democrat Leader Ming Campbell said that the uncritical relationship between the Prime Minister and President had resulted in untold damage to our reputation at home and abroad.
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You can listen to the Guardian Unlimited interview with Ming Campbell on the subject of Guantanamo below (10 min 9 sec):

You can read the Guardian’s special reports on Guantanamo here.

Ming Campbell joined Liberal Democrat MPs Sarah Teather and Edward Davey at a candlelit vigil opposite Downing Street to highlight the 5th anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo Bay:

He has also written to Tony Blair ahead of the fifth anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo Bay asking him to use all his influence with President Bush to secure the release of the British detainees.

In his letter Ming said:

The continued detainment of eight British residents at the Camp - without any apparent prospect of charge or trial - is unacceptable.

Pointing to the fact that the United States is willing to consider requests and German Chancellor Angela Merkel secured the release of a non-German citizen, he said:

Given those facts, will you agree to use all of your influence with President Bush and the American government to secure the release of the British detainees in order that they can face British justice where there is sufficient evidence for a trial?

He concluded by urging the Prime Minister to condemn Guantanamo, he said:

The Foreign Secretary has described Guantanamo Bay as ‘unacceptable in terms of human rights’ and the Lord Chancellor has described it as an ‘affront to democracy’.

I concur entirely with their words, and I hope that you will use tomorrow’s anniversary as an opportunity to echo those sentiments.

Responding to the US Supreme Court’s ruling that President Bush cannot order military war crimes trials for Guantanamo Bay detainees Liberal Democrat Leader, Ming Campbell MP said:

This strikes a body blow at the Guantanamo regime.

If detainees cannot be given a fair trial they should be released.

The Supreme Court ruling confirms that Camp X-Ray violates all known legal principles.

President Bush has no option but to close it down.