Several groups protesting the continuation of Guantanamo Bay prison sent President Barack Obama a letter on Monday asking him to follow through with his promise of closing it, USA TODAY reported.
Several civil liberties and religious organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, and the Presbyterian Church co-wrote the letter and outlined specific steps they want the president to take.
"Specifically, we urge you to 1) appoint an envoy in the Defense Department to lead the effort to close Guantanamo, and 2) direct Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to use his existing statutory authority ... to transfer cleared detainees from Guantanamo to foreign countries that will respect their human rights."
They also reminded Obama that is has been months since he promised to delegate new leaders in overseeing the process of shutting down the prison.
"More than four months have passed since you delivered your May 23, 2013 speech at the National Defense University, in which you recommitted the United States to the goal of closing the Guantanamo prison. ...
"However, despite your personal commitment and engagement, the population at Guantanamo over the past four months has been reduced by only two detainees, moving only from 166 to 164. Of the detainees who remain, 84 were cleared for transfer by national security officials more than four years ago. ...
"In both your press conference and speech more than four months ago, you eloquently and forcefully argued why the United States must prioritize the work to close the Guantanamo prison and end indefinite detention, and you set out some concrete steps toward that end, including the two steps discussed in this letter. We strongly support you in your commitment to close the Guantanamo prison and end indefinite detention. It is in this effort to support you that we want to make clear our concern that the more than four-month delay in your administration carrying out two key steps could jeopardize your ability to close the Guantanamo prison and end indefinite detention during your presidency."
Although Obama has said he planned to close the prison facility that was born from the War on Terror, the government claims many countries are not willing to let the prisoners back home.
The Obama administration has not commented on the letter yet.
