Coalition Condemns Prisoner Abuse
Donna Miles
United States Government
April 28, 2004
WASHINGTON, April 28, 2004 — Six soldiers to be tried for abusing detainees at
a Baghdad prison fall far short of representing their military comrades who are
serving honorably at the facility, a coalition spokesman told reporters in
Baghdad today.
"This does not reflect the vast majority of coalition soldiers, the vast
majority of American soldiers, who are operating at Abu Gharib prison," said
Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy operations officer for Combined Joint Task
Force 7. "Understand that a very, very small number were involved in this
incident and of the hundred and hundreds of guards that they have out there, a
small number were involved."
The six soldiers were charged with criminal offenses to include conspiracy,
dereliction of duty, cruelty and maltreatment, assault and indecent acts with
another for activities at the Abu Gharib prison, Kimmitt told reporters in
March.
"I am not going to stand here and make excuses for these soldiers. I am not
going to stand here and apologize for these soldiers," he said during today's
Baghdad press briefing. "If what they did is proven in a court of law, it is
incompatible with the values we stand for as a professional military force and
the values we stand for as human beings."
Army officials launched an investigation after a soldier assigned to the
facility stepped forward to report the mistreatment of prisoners by some guards
and interrogators at the facility, Kimmitt said.
Kimmitt said Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, CJTF 7 commander, requested a
separate administrative investigation into "systemic issues" such as command
policies and internal procedures related to detention operations. Now that the
investigation is complete, Sanchez directed a follow-up investigation of
interrogation procedures at detention facilities. That investigation continues,
Kimmitt said.
The coalition takes all reports of detainee abuse seriously and investigates
all allegations of mistreatment," he said. "We are committed to treating all
persons under coalition custody with dignity and respect and humanity.
Coalition personnel are expected to act appropriately, humanely and in a manner
consistent with Geneva Conventions."
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