Missing In The Puppeteers Game

An article in Dawn (online version) read:
“—WASHINGTON, Sept 7: The United States has formally informed Pakistan that it is holding six Pakistanis at Guantanamo Bay prison, including a businessman, accused of exporting nuclear weapons to other countries.
The list includes a so-called “high value” detainee, a nephew of the alleged 9-11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and two brothers who initiated a series of hunger strikes against their continued detention without charge.—”

In every court of law, in any country, it is hard to argue against the right to a fair trial. This right is explicitly proclaimed in Article Ten of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and Article Six of the European Convention of Human Rights, as well as numerous other constitutions and declarations throughout the world. Why then is it“alright”to skip this legal right when it suit a government to do so?

The red hot question then is why is it so convenient to skip this right when it comes to certain individuals? I am not judging what they did or did not do – but if someone argues that“terrorists” don't have rights I would like to remind them that each person is innocent until proven guilty.

Amongst the unfortunate souls that have just about vanished from society is the case of Aafia Siddqui – the charges against her being never proven and never even coming up until 5 years of her disappearance. Even now, her 3 young children remain listed as missing and who knows what fate they are in?
I am not questioning what she, or the others, may or may not have done – no what I want to know is who exactly determines that all these people can simply be denied basic human rights?

Former President / General Musharraf (what exactly is his title anyway?) must be accountable for his support and co-secrecy with the United States where he played God and “handed over” - Aafia Siddiqui being one of them – to US authorities. Dont get me wrong, I am not anti-Musharraf at all – simply put I deem him the best of the worst. But any half-brained wit, and keep in mind Musharraf is a smart man, could have foretold disastrous outcomes for ignoring the sanctity of basic human rights?

To quote Amnesty International, “The right to a fair trial is a cornerstone of democratic societies. How a person is treated when accused of a crime provides a concrete demonstration of how far a state respects human rights.—”

Unquestionably then the way the United States is and has handled all their apparent“suspects” is not legal, nor moral, in any court of law. US governments will come and go, our own President General is probably now choosing furniture for his farmhouse to retire in; yes the tide changes and brings about new avenues for everyone. But never for those unfortunate enough to be considered as casualties of this time that we live in – day after day, month after month they face the horrors of‘secret prisons, torture in Guantanamo Bay and their loved ones grow hoarse screaming for answers as their names get pushed further and further down on the notorious missing persons list of Pakistan.

The only thing left to see now is how the new lineup of puppeteers handle the situation. Batters up; Mr. 10% Zardari, and whoever is elected in the Nov. election.
No, it isn't fun to be Missing In The Puppeteers Game .