Push to Close Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp Amid 'Torture Controversy'

Biden Administration Special Envoy Appointment

A U.S. military guard entering Guantanamo Bay detention camp, photographed in June 2006 [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] The U.S. government is pushing to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba, which has been embroiled in controversy over prisoner torture.

The U.S. Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 17th (local time), citing sources, that the Joe Biden administration is pursuing this policy. The appointment of a senior diplomat as a special envoy to oversee prisoner transfers, the first since taking office, is also seen as a preparatory step for this.

The Guantanamo Bay detention camp was opened in Cuba the year after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks by then-President George W. Bush to detain terror suspects. As human rights violations such as torture continuously sparked controversy there, the Barack Obama administration attempted to close it but failed due to political opposition.

President Biden also pledged to close the camp, but public opinion remains divided. Supporters argue that the camp should be closed quickly as human rights violations due to torture and harsh interrogations have been raised, and more than 20 years have passed since the 9/11 attacks. On the other hand, voices mainly from the Republican Party argue that closing it could be interpreted as a signal that the U.S. government is not taking a tough stance on terrorism, so it should not be closed.

The Biden administration showed little movement in its first year to avoid controversy in this situation, but WSJ analyzed through sources that it is now accelerating efforts with the appointment of the special envoy.

However, some argue that it will be difficult to actually close the camp. The diplomat appointed as special envoy this time holds a lower rank compared to the Obama administration, which may make it difficult to lead related matters. Also, the executive order maintaining the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, signed by former President Donald Trump shortly after taking office, remains in effect.

Meanwhile, about 800 people have stayed at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp so far. Many were transferred during the Bush and Obama administrations, and currently only 36 remain. Among them, 9 are undergoing military trials. These include five co-conspirators such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the former Al-Qaeda operations commander known as the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who was indicted for the attack on the U.S. destroyer USS Cole in 2000, which killed 17 U.S. Navy personnel.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.