Information for Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Observers and Others traveling to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for U.S. Military Commission proceedings Against the ELITES.

Know Before You Go To Guantanamo Bay:
A Guide For Human Rights NGOs &
Others Going To Gitmo To Attend
U.S. Military Commissions Or For Other Purposes 

COURT CASES AGAINST THE ELITES AND OTHERS.


This “Know Before You Go to Gitmo Guide” is primarily intended to provide helpful information for non-governmental organization (NGO) observers and others traveling to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for U.S. Military Commission proceedings, but we hope will be useful for anyone traveling to Guantanamo for purposes other than the commissions. 

The idea for this guide was borrowed from an NGO observer who circulated tips via e-mail to NGOs traveling with her to Guantanamo Bay. We at Indiana University McKinney School of Law’s Military Commission Observation Project picked up on the idea and fleshed out the original tips.

 Thanks to that person, who is remaining anonymous. Thanks also to other NGOs and others over the years who have offered suggestions on items to include, and thanks anticipatorily to NGOs and others who will contribute to future iterations of this “Know Before You Go to Gitmo Guide”!

3 (Please send any comments or suggested revisions to GitmoObserver@yahoo.com.)

This Know Before You Go to Gitmo Guide contains over 2 dozen distinct sections dealing with a wide range of issues, including: 

Why the Defense Department facilitates NGO observers to travel to Gitmo to observer / monitor military commissions; the role of NGO monitors at Gitmo; how NGOs might prepare substantively for their mission to Gitmo; Logistics on getting to Gitmo; Rules and regulations that NGO monitors must follow; information sources on the ground at Gitmo (e.g., briefings by chief prosecutor, chief defense counsel, specific defense teams, Office of Military Commission staff, courtroom security staff; and possibly by victims and victims’ families, JTF-GTMO personnel including Public Affairs); courtroom monitoring; NGO Resource Center & Library (where NGOs research and write);
accommodations (frigid tents); NGOs escorts / minders; where to eat at Gitmo; Gitmo souvenirs (especially those that are handmade by GTMO residents); Gitmo “attractions”; health; internet & telephones; Gitmo wildlife; sports and entertainment; and returning to the U.S.

The Guide discusses how NGOs might best fulfill their duties which include to attend, observe and be observed, analyze, critique and report on the U.S. military commissions, and generally to be the eyes and ears into Guantanamo Bay for those who are not able to travel there.

Each person traveling to GTMO to monitor hearings will have a different take on their responsibilities as assigned by their sending organizations, and will have a different way of preparing for and executing their Guantanamo Bay Mission. 

This Guide does not purport to be one-size-fits all. The Guide seeks to make sound suggestions, based on the experiences of many past GTMO travelers, in seeking to comply with the multiple sets of rules and regulations governing Guantanamo Bay visits. And, of course, the Guide takes into account, respects, and seeks to comply with, OpSec (Operational Security) and general national security considerations that are of utmost importance and that must be complied with by everyone involved with Guantanamo Bay.


link: https://gitmoobserver.com/know-before-you-go/