The Road From Guantanamo

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern’s confirmation in the last fortnight that Ireland will accept two detainees from extrajudicial detention at Guantanamo Bay puts Ireland into a small group of nations that have agreed to take such special inmates.

As Barack Obama pushes to keep his promise of closing the controversial prison by January 2010, the EU agreed that its member states would begin to accept some detainees, with Ireland amongst the first to offer support. However, in doing so, the country has to face up to consequences of what taking in such individuals really means.
At a press conference, conducted alongside Ireland’s newly appointed US ambassador Dan Rooney, Dermot Ahern told reporters that taking such a step shows that the government is willing to act on its long-running opposition to what had been happening at Guantanamo Bay. The transfer is expected in the ‘next couple of months’, according to the Minister. More pragmatically, it might be observed, the move shows the government is supporting Obama’s goals at a time when continued goodwill from the US is more important than ever, and when investment in Ireland has never been more crucial to the economy.
Inevitably, the issue of how much it will cost has been raised in the media: a projected cost of €430,000 for round-the-clock Gardaí supervision has been reported in the national press. Some concern has also been expressed about the men’s safety, and their ability to integrate into Irish society.
The men’s relocation to Ireland is the successful outcome of a long process for Boston-based US attorney Michael Mone Jnr.
The lawyer represents the two inmates who have been chosen for resettlement here, one of whom is Uzbek national Oybek Jabarov, the subject of a long campaign by Amnesty International.
“You understand I can’t comment on the specifics of the situation,” stated Mr. Mone, when contacted by Hot Press. “But there are some reports out there that my client Mr. Jabarov and another Uzbek national may be transferred to Ireland. In terms of the costs being suggested for his protection and privacy, it’s completely down to the Irish Department of Justice to consider what’s appropriate. Mr. Jabarov is keen to settle in as a member of society if he’s fortunate enough to go to Ireland.”
Oibeck Jabarov was identified as a non-combatant, wrongly imprisoned by the US military. Originally a refugee from Uzbekistan and living in Afghanistan at the time of the NATO led assault, he was handed over by Afghan fighters to US forces in 2002, reportedly in return for a substantial reward.
The American authorities cannot risk sending him back to Uzbekistan due to fears for his safety at the hands of Uzbek state, which has one of the worst reputations for human rights abuses in Central Asia. “This does mark the potential end of a very long process. Myself and others have had looking for a place that Oybek could move to for a long time,” states Mr. Mone, who first explored the possibility of Ireland accepting prisoners in 2006.
“The Irish Government deserves serious praise for standing up and taking action,” he adds. “They are doing something concrete to help the situation with Guantanamo rather than just condemning the detention.
What does Jabarov himself think of a possible move to Ireland? “I can tell you that my client is just so thankful and happy to be given a chance to move to Ireland, if that does prove to be the case. I spoke to Oybek for 90 minutes over the phone yesterday. He is only 31-years-old. He’s a smart and intelligent man. He speaks English well, having picked it up from his time in Guantanamo. Not from any classes or anything like that, simply from interacting with the staff there. He also speaks Uzbek, Tajik, Russian and some Arabic. He seriously wants to fit in and definitely wants work should he arrive in Ireland. His languages would be a great help to him in that regard.”
Mr. Jabarov’s family are reported to be living in as refugees in Central Asia.
“I don’t want to put the cart before the horse,” his lawyer says, “but I think it would be better for all involved if this man’s family could join him. A country like Ireland has a firm and lasting commitment to human rights, and on a humane basis I don’t think anyone would deny the justness of letting his wife and two children, one of whom he’s never even met, join him. He has been separated from his young family for eight years.”
Mone has no fears for the safety of Mr. Jabarov in Ireland. “You really can’t get any further away from Uzbekistan than Ireland. But, of course, I would defer to the Irish Government’s judgment in regards to providing for his safety, and what that would entail.”
The transfer of Jabarov to Ireland will come as a victory for the local branch of Amnesty International. Their spokesperson Justin Moran has termed it a “huge move”.
“We have been working with other experienced NGOs and the Department of Justice in order to organize what will happen once he steps off the plane, but as of yet there are no final plans for that.”
The move is new territory for Ireland, but one which Amnesty see as essential in the struggle to get Guantanamo closed. “We would be delighted to see Ireland take more detainees in the future,“ commented Mr. Moran. “Right now we need to be supportive of this particular effort. In terms of the costs of keeping the men under guard, I’m not convinced at all that a level of protection such as that would be required. In any case, I think the US government should offer absolute remuneration for any costs of that sort that are incurred.”