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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Mar 20, 2010 - 5:39:42 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| The members of the detainee committee meet for their inaugural gathering Wednesday, Dec. 10, in Baghdad's International Zone. Senior MNF-I officers included the heads of Intelligence, Detainee Operations, and the Commanding General of MNF-I. Government of Iraq officials included the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Interior, the Chief Justice, the National Security Advisor, and a representative from Iraq's Parliament. Also present were representatives from the US State Department. (MNF-I/TF 134 photo by MC1 David Frech) |
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq hosted the Commanding General of Multi-National Force - Iraq, General Raymond T. Odierno and representatives from the US State Department, and senior Government of Iraq officials, during the first meeting of the newly formed committee to address the transfer of detainees, Dec..10.
The meeting between the senior officials marked the first such gathering since the signing of the Security Agreement between the US and Iraq. The purpose of this committee is to coordinate the efforts of Coalition forces with the GoI entities tasked with the future plans for handling Iraqis currently in Coalition custody. According to the newly signed Security Agreement, Coalition forces must release or transfer all Iraqi detainees to GoI custody, beginning Jan. 1, 2009.
In his opening statement to the committee members, Odierno, called for the meetings to be a "transparent process that will apply to all parties." He stressed the importance of the proper transfer of detainees and their treatment as vital to the international legitimacy of Iraq in the future.
Deputy Prime Minister Barim Salih also addressed the committee, stating that the committee faces the problem of desiring to "release as many detainees as possible, while being careful not to release criminals or those who will return to terrorist activities."
The three major issues that will be addressed in future meetings are intelligence reviews of each detainee's file, judicial review of the files of the most dangerous detainees, and the process for handing over control of coalition forces theater internment facilities.
Brig. Gen. David Quantock, commanding general of Task Force 134, the organization directly responsible for the care and custody of detainees in Coalition custody, ,explained the current release process, noting "we go through a very deliberate process with every detainee, in accordance with the requirements of the Geneva Convention and international law."
Quantock also announced that the detainees to be released beginning Jan. 1, 2009, have already been scheduled for release under the current procedures. The first batch of files to be reviewed by the GoI will be available Dec. 15. This will give the GoI 45 days to review the files and identify the detainees they wish to be released or transferred to Iraqi prisons beginning Feb. 1, 2009. Their decisions should be based on their intelligence information or existing arrest warrants.
According to Quantock, TF 134 will provide 1,500 files to the GoI on the first day of each month until all Iraqi detainees in coalition custody have been released or transferred to GoI run facilities.
The coalition plan briefed during this inaugural meeting will stand until the GoI creates a plan of its own, at which time the committee will come to an agreement that will incorporate aspects of both the MNF-I and GoI plans for releasing or transferring detainees.
Currently, there are about 15,800 detainees in Coalition theater internment facilities; down dramatically from the high of about 26,000 in November 2007. Since the start of 2008, nearly 17,800 detainees have been released to their families and communities throughout Iraq.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| Detainee Committee meets for their inaugural gathering Wednesday, Dec. 10, in Baghdad's International Zone. Government of Iraq officials (from right to left) National Security Advisor - Dr. Al Rubaie, Chief Prosecutor - Kuhdhinfur, Chief Justice - Madhat Al Mahmoud, Deputy Prime Minister - Barim Salih, Minister of Interior - Jawad Al Bolani, and Parliament Member - Hadi Al Amiri. (MNF-I/TF 134 photo by MC1 David Frech) |
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| Detainee Committee meets for their inaugural gathering Wednesday, Dec. 10, in Baghdad's International Zone. Senior MNF-I officers (from left to right) MNF-I CJ-2X Intelligence - Brig Gen Legere, MNF-I/TF 134 Detainee Operations - Brig Gen Quantock, MNF-I Deputy Commanding General Lt. Gen. Cooper, and the Commanding General of MNF-I - Gen. Odierno. (MNF-I/TF 134 photo by MC1 David Frech) |
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