MEDIA RELEASE: Activists to mark 200 days of Guantánamo Hunger Strike at Notting Hill Carnival, Sunday 25th August, 1-3pm

24 August 2013 - For immediate release

On Sunday 25 August, the current hunger strike at Guantánamo Bay will enter its 200^th day.  Thirty seven prisoners are currently reported to be on hunger strike, almost all of whom are said to be force fed by nasal tube [1]. The hunger strikers being force fed include British residents Shaker Aamer [2] and Ahmed Belbacha [3].

Activists from the London Guantánamo Campaign [4] will hold an action at the Notting Hill Carnival in west London at 1-3pm with activists in orange jumpsuits and black hoods to raise awareness of this increasingly desperate situation.

Aisha Maniar, an organiser from the London Guantánamo Campaign, said:

“Just as President Obama’s recent pledges to take action on Guantánamo Bay bring the world no nearer to the closure of this twenty first century concentration camp, the recent reported fall in the number of prisoners on hunger strike is not indicative that the action is coming to an end. This is not a question of statistics or a maths problem, but the more fundamental issue of how the US can continue to imprison 166 men, almost wholly without charge or trial for nearly 12 years, and then counter their legitimate, peaceful protest with violence and torture?”

Contact:          E-mail: london.gtmo@gmail.com     

           

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITOR

1. http://www.miamiherald.com/static/media/projects/gitmo_chart/ There are currently 166 prisoners still held at Guantánamo Bay.

2. http://www.reprieve.org.uk/cases/shakeraamer/

3. http://www.reprieve.org.uk/cases/ahmedbelbacha

4. The London Guantánamo Campaign campaigns for justice for all prisoners at Guantánamo Bay, for the closure of this and other secret prisons, and an end to the practice of extraordinary rendition. http://londonguantanamocampaign.blogspot.com  

Sunday 25 August: London Guantánamo Campaign to mark 200 days of Guantánamo Hunger Strike

The current ongoing hunger strike at Guantánamo Bay will enter its 200^th day on 25 August. To show solidarity with the prisoners and their families, and to raise awareness of their plight, the London Guantánamo Campaign will mark this date with two actions:

1: Action at the Notting Hill Carnival

Between 1 and 3pm, the London Guantánamo Campaign will visit the Notting Hill Carnival in west London with activists wearing orange jumpsuits and black hoods and raising awareness about the hunger strike among the general public.

The Carnival is attended by over one million people each year and is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness, as well as coinciding with this date. We last held an action at the Notting Hill Carnival in 2008 when campaigning for local resident Binyam Mohamed; he returned to the UK in early 2009. His return was sought at the same time as that of Shaker Aamer, who remains at Guantánamo Bay, and on hunger strike. Why has he not returned as well?

We are looking for volunteers for this action. Please get in touch with us if you are attending and would like to get involved: by e-mail london.gtmo@gmail.com

2: Twitter storm at 6pm BST/ 1pm EST

The London Guantánamo Campaign will also hold a Twitter storm at 6pm BST to raise awareness. Full details will be provided on our website with the relevant hashtag and tweets for this purpose closer to the time. You can take part if you are on Twitter from anywhere in the world on an electronic device with internet access. Check out our website: www.londonguantanamocampaign.blogspot.co.uk or follow us on Twitter @shutguantanamo

Please contact us at the above e-mail address if you require any further details.

The current hunger strike at Guantánamo Bay has been ongoing since 6 February this year. While the number of prisoners taking part has recently been reported to have fallen to around 50 from a reported maximum of over100 prisoners, out of the remaining 166, held almost wholly without charge or trial for nearly12 years, this does not mean that the hunger strike is close to ending. Instead, the US now faces a larger hunger strike of over 1000 prisoners in California and has this week ruled to allow prisoners on hunger strike in prolonged solitary confinement there to be force fed in the same manner as at Guantánamo Bay. Join our actions and show your solidarity.

On 17 March, the London Guantánamo Campaign held the first demonstration anywhere in support of the Guantánamo hunger strikers http://londonguantanamocampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/emergency-demonstration-protest.html and on the weekend of 17-19 May, we led an international weekend of action to mark the 100^th day of the hunger strike http://londonguantanamocampaign.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/britains-got-compassion-round-up-of.html

It is unfortunate that we will soon mark the 200^th day of this dangerous and life-threatening action by prisoners held as hostages by the US administration for almost 12 years.

Join us in taking action – if you are planning an action elsewhere in the UK, please let us know about it.