US MILITARY UNINTERESTED ABOUT TRUTH, SAYS EX-GUANTANAMO DETAINEE

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- In 2001, the Sudanese journalist was about
to cross the border to Afganisatan when he was arrested by the United States
military in Pakistan and detained as an "enemy combatant" in Guantanamo Bay.

Sami Al Hajj is the only journalist ever held in the notorious prison for
seven years and was never charged.

Currently, the 40-year-old heads the newly-formed public liberties and human
rights department of the Al-Jazeera television network.

At the Criminalise War Conference and War Crimes Tribunal 2009, he shared
the trauma and torture he underwent, stripped naked and fed with a tube after
being locked up in Guantanamo.

"I was arrested without any mercy, the US army suspected me to be a
journalist who wanted to interview Osama bin Laden. They did not bother to hear
the truth," said Sami, adding that detainees from all over the world, including
Bosnia and Indonesia, were brought to Guantanamo.

The detainees were not allowed to contact their families, neither were they
told why they were held.

"The worst part is, we do not know the time for Ramadhan fasting, prayer or
festive celebration, including Hari Raya (Eid)," said Sami who was a
cameramen-turned-journalist.

He said the US army also had no respect for other religions, adding that its
personnel stepped on the Koran and threw the holy book into the toilet bowl.

"If the detainees are sick or injured, they are not sent for any
medical treatment but were left behind until the injury became serious and
some of them got their legs cut from the ankle," said Sami.

He said the media had to play their role and deliver fair stories,
especially on Guantanamo and the war to let the public know the real situation.

Sami served as cameraman for Al-Jazeera since 2000, before he was promoted
to journalist.

"Through this conference, I hope Malaysia can set a platform to find a
solution to combat war, and educate the public and the media. I do hope Dr
Mahathir (Mohamad) can help to voice out at the international level to stop
war," he said.

The four-day conference was launched Wednesday by Malaysian former prime
minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also the Perdana Global Peace Organisation
chairman.
-- BERNAMA