Alleged foreign terrorists held at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba do not have the right to a lawyer when appearing before a panel that will annually consider their possible release, the Pentagon said last night.
The Pentagon unveiled draft rules for administrative review panels of three military officers that will serve as parole boards for Guantanamo prisoners.
The prisoner has the right to make his case personally to a board during a hearing, with an interpreter supplied by the Pentagon if necessary, but has no right to counsel, the Pentagon said.
The review board will assign a US military officer "to assist the enemy combatant in preparing his presentation to the board," and that officer may "serve as the spokesperson for the enemy combatant in presenting his information to the board," a Pentagon memorandum stated.
The prisoner's home country may be allowed to provide a written submission to the review panel, including information from his family, the Pentagon said. A US military officer will present the panel with any information demonstrating the need for continued imprisonment.
The United States holds some 640 non-US citizens at Guantanamo, caught in what President Bush calls the global war on terrorism.
Human rights groups have criticised the United States for holding the prisoners, some for more than two years, with no charges or legal representation.