General 'Guarantees' Protection Under Geneva Conventions

Saturday, May 8, 2004

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

Miller will reinforce a long-standing rule that makes a sharp distinction on the military police role in interrogations. He said MPs can "passively" collect data on detainees -- who the detainees spoke with, their general demeanor, what they may have said, what they ate -- "but the military police are never involved in active interrogation."

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
Actions, not words, are important now, said Army Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, deputy commanding general for detainee operations for Multinational Forces, Iraq.

Miller spoke at a Baghdad press conference today. He said that in the face of the allegations of abuse at Abu Ghraib prison, U.S. actions must demonstrate "our adherence to the Geneva Conventions and the principles of dignity to each of those ... protected individuals under the Geneva Conventions. I give you my personal guarantee that we will continue to do that seven days a week, 24 hours a day."

Miller, who commanded Joint Task Force Guantanamo at the Guantanamo Naval Station, Cuba, recently took over the newly created job in Iraq. He said he has personally spoken to all personnel in the system to explain the situation, and has demanded that they follow all laws, regulations and procedures.

The general said authorities are completing the investigations as quickly as possible into the alleged abuses that occurred at the Abu Ghraib facility. He said he will then make recommendations for legal actions.

(More: American Forces Information Service)

2003 © United States Department of Defense.

Dan