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<\/a><\/p>\nTesfa-Alem Tekle<\/p>\n
2 December 2011<\/p>\n
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Addis Ababa \u2014 A leading human rights group, Amnesty International, has called on Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia to arrest US former president, George W. Bush, during his visit to the African countries this week.<\/p>\n
Amnesty argued that “there is enough evidence in the public domain” for the African countries to arrest president Bush, who according to Amnesty is responsible for authorizing the use of water boarding as interrogation technique against terror suspected prisoners in Guantanamo bay, Iraq and in other detention facilities.<\/p>\n
“International law requires that there be no safe haven for those responsible for torture; Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia must seize this opportunity to fulfill their obligations and end the impunity George W. Bush has so far enjoyed,” Matt Pollard, group’s senior legal adviser, said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Bush along with his wife Laura is paying visits to the three African countries from 1-5 December 2011 to promote and raise awareness to efforts on fight to cervical and breast cancer in the continent.<\/p>\n
“Amnesty International recognises the value of raising awareness about cervical and breast cancer in Africa, the stated aim of the visit, but this cannot lessen the damage to the fight against torture caused by allowing someone who has admitted to authorising water-boarding to travel without facing the consequences prescribed by law,” the statement further said.<\/p>\n
Water boarding is considered torture by right group campaigners and Amnesty in the past had been making similar calls to the countries Bush paid visit to.<\/p>\n
This is not the first time for Amnesty to appeal on Bush detention. Last October, Amnesty made calls to his arrest when Bush went to Canada to attend an economic summit.<\/p>\n
Other appeal was also made earlier this year during Bush planned visit to Switzerland. Bush didn’t attend the meeting and many rights organizations claimed that he was forced to cancel the meeting due fear of arrest.<\/p>\n
The group insists the former president is brought to justice and his humanitarian mission should not be used as an excuse for his role in torture further urging all countries to cooperate in arresting him.<\/p>\n
“All countries to which George W. Bush travels have an obligation to bring him to justice for his role in torture,”<\/p>\n
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