Victims of a humanitarian act?

Make text smaller Make text larger

They were brought here under a cloak of secrecy. We don’t know for sure what they were told or what they were promised. All they knew was that their days in Guantánamo Bay were at an end.

Now the four Uighurs find themselves in limbo in paradise. Their situation is horribly ironic — rescued from what was effectively an interrogation camp one day, prisoners on 21 square miles of land, in the middle of nowhere, the next.

Put aside any xenophobia and ask the question: looking at the facts as far as you know them, are they the victims of a political game? If the answer is yes, ask another question. If they are the victims, should the special dispensation be made to give them passports?

Of course, it is not that simple. With passports they can travel and they would not be welcomed in the UK or the US, where, presumably, they are still seen as a potential threat.

This newspaper understands that former Premier Ewart Brown brought them to Bermuda in what he thought was a genuine humanitarian act and that he was dismayed at the reaction he encountered — although that must be tempered by the fact that he kept the British authorises in the dark.

But, if it was a genuine humanitarian act and if they are the victims, free them.

* What do you think? E-mail acting Editor Jeremy Deacon, jdeacon@royalgazette.bm

QUE SERA SERA

‘Que sera sera, we’re going to Wembley’. A famous song from the terraces when a football team is bound for the iconic stadium.

No doubt the Bradford fans were in full voice at Villa Park, when the Bantams put Premiership side Aston Villa to the sword, in so doing winning a place in the Capital One Cup final at Wembley.

Back home there were celebrations for Bermudian Nahki Wells, the latest in a distinguished list of Bermudians to play at Wembley.

Go Nahki! Get the winner! Do your Country proud.

Make text smaller Make text larger

Take Our Poll