Human Rights First Statement on Re-deployment of Abu Ghraib Dog Handler
03.11.2006 19:10 Political Press Releases
To: City Desk, Military/Pentagon Reporter
Contact: Henry Griggs of Human Rights First, 212-845-5274, or 202-321-8282
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Military officials today released a statement on Spec. Santos Cardona, a dog handler who was convicted of abusing detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, saying he "deployed Oct. 30 from Fort Bragg, N.C. and is currently in Kuwait with his unit, the 23rd Military Police Company" and that "his forward movement into Iraq with his unit has been stopped by commanders on the ground and his situation is being evaluated."
Human Rights First Senior Counsel Hina Shamsi, who monitored the Santos court martial earlier this year, said
"It would show an appalling lack of judgment to send a soldier convicted of using his military dog to threaten a detainee at Abu Ghraib back to serve in Iraq. If, as reported, Spec. Cardona might be involved again in detainee operations, let alone teaching others about policing, it would call into question the U.S. government's assertions that it is doing all it can to stop abuses in the future."
Shamsi's blog from the Cardona court martial is at http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/blog/cardona/index.htm
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/© 2006 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
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