Calls Growing for bush and co. Criminal Investigations

July 12, 2011 - Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the US government to order a criminal investigation into allegations of torture of detainees during the administration of former President George W. Bush.

The New York-based rights watchdog said that overwhelming evidence of torture by the Bush administration obliges President Barack Obama to take action.

Speaking with The Irrawaddy on Tuesday, Deputy Director of HRW's Asia Division Phil Robertson said, “We try to encourage the Obama administration to do what they are required to do under the Convention against Torture.”

HRW also accused the Obama administration of failing to meet US obligations under the Convention against Torture to investigate acts of torture and other ill-treatment of detainees authorized by Bush. The US government’s failure also undermines US efforts to press for accountability for human rights violations abroad, said the rights group.

“Torture is always wrong,” said Robertson. “No matter who does it. Human Rights Watch does not take sides.

“Wherever we find torture taking place ... whether it be in Burma, or whether it is taking place in the United States, we will call for it to be investigated.”

The 107-page report titled, “Getting Away with Torture: The Bush Administration and Mistreatment of Detainees,” presents substantial data and information that the group says warrants criminal investigations of Bush and senior administration officials, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and former CIA Director George Tenet. read more>>>