The ICRC: monitoring Iraq´s prisons

Under international law, the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is entitled to visit prisoners held by occupying powers. This is also in the case in Iraq, where all places of detention are visited by ICRC delegates.

In an interview with Radio Netherlands, ICRC spokesperson Antonella Notari talks about the controversy sparked by shocking pictures reportedly taken inside the largest detention facility in Iraq, Abu Ghraib prison:

"We do visit regularly Abu Ghraib prison ever since the coalition forces are detaining Iraqi prisoners in this prison. Every five to six weeks there is a team of the ICRC visiting the prison. We speak with each of the prisoners of our choice, in private. We register the prisoners and we inspect the whole facilities of Abu Ghraib to see for ourselves what services are put to the disposal of the prisoners."

RN: "One of the persons involved in the present controversy, Brigadier-General Janis Karpinski, the former head of the military police in the prison, has stated that there were efforts by military intelligence officers to try and prevent the ICRC from visiting a specific part of the prison, known as cellblock 1A. What did you notice of such efforts?"

"There may have been such efforts but if there were, they did not succeed. We are convinced that we were able to see all the prisoners, the whole facility of Abu Ghraib, to speak to any prisoner of our choice."

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http://www.rnw.nl/hotspots/html/irq040504.html