Brenda Lopez Romero
Impunity Watch reporter – North America desk
GANTANAMO BAY — Lt. Col. Jon Jackson, Omar Khadr’s military lawyer, was able to get some damaging testimony during his cross-examination of witnesses that indicated Mr. Khadr was abused and mis-treatmented.
An Army master sergeant, “Interrogator #2,” acknowledge that that he was aware of the Army’s field manual that cited as an example of torture “forcing an individual to stand, sit or kneel in abnormal positions for a prolonged period of time.” Lt. Col. Jackson recounted prior testimony by a medic personnel, Mr. M, that indicated Mr. Khadr’s arms had been shackled at his forehead level. Then Interrogator #2 stated that “[i]t could be” a similar position to that one stated in the field manual. What set them apart was that an “air lock technique” forced detainees to stand with their arms’ straight out without being shackled and Mr. Khadr’s hands held at forehead level, not straight out, and was shackled.
If Col. Patrick Parrish, the military judge, hearing Mr. Khadr’s case is convinced that he suffered abuse prior to giving statements during interrogation, then Col. Parrish could be persuaded that Mr. Khadr was unreasonably coerced
Interrogator #2 testified that in Bagram they could play music in loud volume. Interrogator #2’s also testified that Khdar was “sedated” during an interrogation.
When Lt. Col. Jackson asked if interrogators were allowed to use “stress positions,” Interrogator #2 stated that they were clear to use “safety positions.”
Lt Col. Jackson then asked, “Well, first it was called stress positions, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, sir,” Interrogator #2 answered.
Lt. Col. further inquired, “Is there a difference?”
“No, sir,” Interrogator #2 responded.
“Interrogator #1,” the lead interrogator for Khadr, is expected to testify for the defense and it is expected he will acknowledge threatening Khadr with rape.
For more information, please see:
The Miami Herald – Guantánamo hearing: Canadian teen was sedated when first questioned – 4 May 2010
The Star – Khadr questioned by sergeant later court martialed, court told – 4 May 4, 2010
The Washington Independent – Defense Gets Interrogator to Suggest Khadr Was Tortured – 4 May 2010
