Justice at Guantanamo - MEP joins Bush protest

12.00.00am GMT Tue 18th Nov 2003

London's Liberal Democrat Euro-MP Baroness Sarah Ludford will join protesters marching in London this Thursday, in particular to demand that further international support for the US in Iraq be linked to justice for Guantanamo Bay detainees.

Sarah Ludford is European Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman and 'rapporteur' on Guantanamo Bay for the European Parliament's civil liberties committee. As President Bush arrived in London she commented:

"Since President Bush understandably wants wider support for the US in Iraq, he must stop treating with disdain the human rights concerns of the international community."

"I strongly support the principle of EU-US cooperation against terrorism and security threats. But the policies of the Bush administration since 9/11 have squandered the opportunity to build international security on respect for human rights and attention to the root causes of terrorism."

"I am emphatically not 'anti-American', but George Bush is. I am marching to remind Bush of how he is betraying American values of justice, freedom and the rule of law which should be a beacon to the world."

"Breaches of fundamental rights such as in Guantanamo Bay not only stoke fires of hatred towards the West, but tragically undermine those values which make us ultimately stronger than the fanatics."

"Without due process being guaranteed for the Guantanamo detainees, Bush cannot expect extra help in getting his troops home in time to suit his re-election campaign."

Sarah Ludford MEP will be meeting with fellow Liberal Democrats attending the march on Thursday 20th November at 1.45pm by the Gandhi statue in Tavistock Square WC1, near the start of the route of the march.