At 8.30am this morning outside the U.S. Consulate in Sydney's Martin Place, we staged a public protest calling on the U.S. Government to close down Guantanamo Bay detention centre, which took in its first 'war on terror' detainees on 11 January six years ago.
"All governments have a duty to protect their citizens from terrorist attacks and to bring those who commit such acts to justice. But those very governments also have a duty to act within the law and respect fundamental human rights. Fighting terror with terror does not work, it alienates communities, feed grievances and it fuels fear and violence," said Claire Mallinson, National Director of Amnesty International Australia.
We are not alone in our call. Leaders in the U.S. and across the world have also spoken against Guantanamo. The momentum is building - in the U.S., public opinion polls reveal approval for the U.S. administration policies in the 'war on terror' is slipping.
Today, all over the world, people just like us are standing up in a global day of action. Let's make 2008 the year that Guantanamo Bay closes! Read Claire's full speech and see photos of our activists in orange.
