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The
Geneva Convention
Judge for yourself
In 1991 I read the Geneva Convention for the first time. The
First Gulf War was being fought and Rollestone Camp, twelve
miles north of Salisbury, was the only Prisoner of War Camp
in the UK.
I was keen to know that the Iraqi citizens we had imprisoned
(all of them students sponsored by the Iraq Government) were
treated according to law.
The Armed Services Minister wrote, ‘Our obligations
under the Geneva Convention regarding public scrutiny are fairly
tight and particularly sensitive in the light of the treatment
by the Iraqis of our own captured personnel. Under the circumstances
I hope you will understand that we must be seen to abide by
both the letter and the spirit of the Convention …’
So I read the text and went to Rollestone armed with scores
of questions to put to the Commandant. I was escorted on a
tour of the (vacated) huts and facilities and the questions
were answered properly and, I believe, accurately. I still
have my notes. For example, I asked about freedom to worship,
medical care, appropriate food, mail and whether they had all
spoken to relatives in Iraq (they had) even though this was
more than the Convention demanded.
The treatment of prisoners in Iraq by Coalition military personnel
degrades us all. The Daily Mirror, hoax or not, did incalculable
damage and put British lives at risk. I visited Britain’s
top field soldier, the Commander in Chief Land, at Wilton and
asked him if all our troops received instruction in the Convention.
They do. This was confirmed in the Commons when I asked the
Secretary of State for Defence if all our military learn regularly
and as a matter of routine the terms of the Geneva Convention
and the Rules of Engagement of the enemy. Yes, they do, he
said.
I invite you to make your own judgment about the treatment
of any and all prisoners of war under the Convention. Keep
this handy for the next conflict, too.
Article 12 says prisoners ‘are in the hands of the enemy
Power, but not of the individuals or military units who have
captured them … the Detaining Power is responsible for
the treatment given them.’ Ultimately Governments are
responsible, not soldiers or prison guards.
Article 13 says prisoners must at all times be humanely treated
and ‘must at all times be protected, particularly against
acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public
curiosity. Measures of reprisal against prisoners are prohibited’.
Article 14 says prisoners ‘are entitled in all circumstances
to respect for their persons and their honour’.
Surely that is clear enough? In coming months all the countries
of the Coalition in Iraq should redouble our efforts to enforce
law and order, and if necessary send more troops. We must build
the social and economic framework and create the conditions
for democratic self-government.
The worst possible action would be to withdraw our troops.
I did not support the decision to go to war on the off-chance
we might find some weapons of mass destruction. I set out my
reasons very clearly in this column (and in Parliament) at
the time. We did the right thing. We must finish the job.
Finally, I record my deep admiration for our British Forces,
for their families and the civilians who support them. They
are the finest. They have been wounded by recent events – but
they will emerge cleansed and strengthened.
Robert Key
16th May 2004
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