USA-GUANTANAMO/URUGUAY Former Guantanamo inmate in Uruguay says he prefers to return to Guantanamo

Record ID: 158275

  • Title: USA-GUANTANAMO/URUGUAY Former Guantanamo inmate in Uruguay says he prefers to return to Guantanamo
  • Date: 25th April 2015
  • Summary: MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY (APRIL 24, 2015) (REUTERS) GENERAL OF U.S. EMBASSY FLAG OF UNITED STATES FORMER GUANTANAMO INMATES IN FRONT OF EMBASSY FORMER GUANTANAMO INMATE OMAR MAHMOUD FARAJ WITH MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FORMER GUANTANAMO INMATE, OMAR MAHMOUD FARAJ, SAYING: "We came here (to the embassy) because we are very angry, and if things don't get better, we'd like to go back to Guantanamo." FARAJ SURROUNDED BY REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FORMER GUANTANAMO INMATE, OMAR MAHMOUD FARAJ, SAYING: "We came here to the embassy of the United States so they help us with the Uruguayan government." CLOSE-UP OF FARAJ (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FORMER GUANTANAMO INMATE, OMAR MAHMOUD FARAJ, SAYING: "A month and a half ago, the PIT-CNT (Uruguayan workers' union) stopped providing us with help. To the point of the phone lines being cut and our homes being left open. Where is the programming? It's been six months, and we don't have anything. (Uruguayan President Jose) Mujica made promises, everyone made promises, and up till now, it's only been words and no action. They are playing around with us, and doing nothing." WIDE OF FARAJ WITH REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FORMER GUANTANAMO INMATE, OMAR MAHMOUD FARAJ, SAYING: "The PIT-CNT (Uruguayan workers' union) did what it could for two or three months, and helped a lot." VARIOUS OF FORMER GUANTANAMO INMATES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FORMER GUANTANAMO INMATE, OMAR MAHMOUD FARAJ, SAYING: "We weren't even given a translator to help us. There are no good translators. Up till now, no translator. I had to go to the hospital, and they didn't bring along a translator. I can't understand the doctors and what they are explaining to me." FORMER INMATE LISTENING TO INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FORMER GUANTANAMO INMATE, OMAR MAHMOUD FARAJ, SAYING: "I don't want to leave. I want to establish myself here with my family. We've already begun to speak Spanish. We're speaking with Mujica and the Interior Ministry about this. They don't have a programme for us." MEDIA WITH FORMER INMATES
  • Embargoed: 10th May 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Uruguay
  • Country: Uruguay
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAEARTJ44Z90I06LL1WZDM7JMGW
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Five months after resettling in Uruguay, former Guantanamo inmate Omar Mahmoud Faraj has had a change of heart about the South American nation, telling reporters on Friday (April 24) his treatment makes him wish he could return to the U.S. military prison in Cuba.
    Faraj, a native of Syria, was one of six inmates granted refugee status by the left-leaning government of Uruguayan President Jose "Pepe" Mujica back in 2014. They were grouped together in a house and provided with a $600 monthly stipend, according to reports.
    But according to Faraj, that is not enough. He and other former inmates organised a demonstration on Friday outside the U.S. embassy in the capital Montevideo to call attention to their frustration.
    "We came here (to the embassy) because we are very angry, and if things don't get better, we'd like to go back to Guantanamo," he told reporters.
    "We came here to the embassy of the United States so they help us with the Uruguayan government," he added.
    The 39-year old Faraj was held by the United States for 12 years without charge after being arrested in 2002.
    The transfer to Uruguay was initially greeted by Faraj with words of high praise. He thanked Uruguay for having saved him from "that black hole" and promised to show "only good will" to Uruguay.
    But in speaking to reporters on Friday, he described how Montevideo has lost track of his plight.
    "A month and a half ago, the PIT-CNT (Uruguayan workers' union) stopped providing us with help. To the point of the phone lines being cut and our homes being left open. Where is the programming? It's been six months, and we don't have anything. (Uruguayan President Jose) Mujica made promises, everyone made promises, and up till now, it's only been words and no action. They are playing around with us, and doing nothing," he said.
    Faraj did underscore the hospitable welcoming he received at the start of his stay in Uruguay.
    "The PIT-CNT did what it could for two or three months, and helped a lot," he said.
    While in Uruguay, the six men - four Syrians, a Tunisian and a Palestinian - have been treated at a medical facility for check-ups.
    Long before they made their way to Uruguay, the six men had been cleared for release by the United States and are not regarded as security threats. Washington, however, has expressed reservations over sending Faraj back to his troubled homeland.
    Yet Faraj says he continues to encounter troubles living in Uruguay as a foreigner
    "We weren't even given a translator to help us. There are no good translators. Up till now, no translator. I had to go to the hospital, and they didn't bring
    along a translator. I can't understand the doctors and what they are explaining to me," he said.
    Regardless, he says he could see himself staying in Uruguay.
    "I don't want to leave. I want to establish myself here with my family. We've already begun to speak Spanish. We're speaking with Mujica and the Interior Ministry about this," he said.
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