WASHINGTON, DC -- Representative Ed Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee and the lead sponsor of a measure to end the practice of extraordinary rendition, released the following statement on the Pentagon’s reversal of policy to now treat prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba under Geneva Convention protocols:

“Now that the courts have forced the Bush Administration to comply with the Geneva conventions with respect to detainees at Guantanamo, perhaps it will be more willing to stop sending detainees to foreign countries known to engage in torture.  No U.S. government employee, from the CIA or any other agency, should ever be involved in transferring anyone to a country where they are likely to be tortured. 

“How can we protect captured American soldiers in a time of war if the U.S. is circumventing its obligations under the Convention Against Torture by kidnapping people off the streets and sending them to be interrogated by nations infamous for their use of torture?  The CIA calls it “extraordinary rendition” – but it should be called the outsourcing of torture.  Unfortunately, the House Republican leadership has been bottling up my bill to permanently ban this repugnant practice.   It's time for them to allow this bill to come to the House floor for a vote.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11, 2006

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