Approved prison 'techniques'

2004-06-23 07:50

Washington - Here is a list of interrogation techniques approved for use on prisoners at the US base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in late 2002, according to a memo released on Tuesday by the White House:

Yelling, but not directly into the ear

Deception through the use of a cooperating detainee

Isolation or segregation

Interrogating the detainee in a non-standard environment

Deprivation of light

Inducing stress, such as by using a female interrogator

Long-lasting interrogations, up to 20 hours

Removal of all comfort items, including religious items

Serving military rations instead of hot meals

Forced grooming, such as shaving of beards

Use of false documents or reports

Here are some other techniques approved by US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in December 2002, but not reported among those used:

Forcing detainees to remain in stressful positions for up to four hours

Isolation for up to 30 days

Deprivation of both light and sound

Hooding during transport and interrogation

Forcing detainees to remain naked

Scaring detainees with dogs

Use of mild, non-injurious physical contact

In mid-January 2003, Rumsfeld rescinded that approval following complaints from some military officers and ordered a review of interrogation techniques by a Pentagon working group that explored the range of possibilities.

The final interrogation techniques approved by Rumsfeld in April 2003, however, contained none of the harsher techniques initially approved, except isolation.

He also required advance notice for the use of four techniques.

They were: the use of incentives or removal of incentives; "pride and ego down;" "good cop/bad cop;" and "segregation from the other detainees," according to an official.

- AFP