By KUNA
Kuwait : A committee of families of Kuwaiti prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay on Friday called on the US to release remaining four Kuwaiti detainees at the detention facility in Cuba.
The Kuwaiti call came shortly after US President George W. Bush arrived here earlier in the day for a two-day state visit to Kuwait.
” … We have remained faithful as an ally to the US and as a friend to the American people,” said Khalid Al Oda, head of the Kuwaiti Family Committee and father of detainee Fawzi Al-Oda.
“Mr. President, it’s time to trust the State of Kuwait as your faithful ally and to return the four Kuwaiti to face justice in their own country … , ” he implored.
Twelve Kuwaitis were originally taken to Guantanamo Bay following the US invasion of Afghanistan. In 2005 and 2006, eight of the detainees were returned to Kuwait where they were charged, tried and cleared of wrongdoing by Kuwaiti courts.
Despite the best efforts of the Government of Kuwait, four Kuwaitis remain imprisoned without any explanation.
The Kuwaiti Family Committee includes some 100 relatives of the prisoners. They are asking for due process of law for their fathers, brothers and sons, involving speedy proceedings either to release them or to charge and try them in a fair process.