January 16, 2009

WASHINGTON -- Larry Cox , Amnesty International USA executive director, issued the following statement on news reports that President-elect Barack Obama is planning to end harsh interrogations of detainees by directing the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to adhere to the U.S. Army Field Manual for interviewing suspects.

"Amnesty International welcomes reports that President-elect Obama is preparing to shut down 'black sites,' prohibit waterboarding and the use of harsh interrogation techniques, and that there will be a single standard for all interrogations for all agents and forces of the U.S. government.

"However, any classified section allowing the CIA to use interrogation methods beyond those authorized by the Pentagon would undermine claims thatthe United States categorically rejects torture. Any and all rules must clearly adhere to international human rights standards.

"The argument that the CIA needs additional techniques, tools or methods to deal with terrorism suspects has also been disputed by many people in the government and the intelligence community. Some have argued such techniques are even fundamentally dangerous to U.S. national security.

"Amnesty International calls on the new administration to categorically reject the notion that any additional special techniques or methods beyond the Army Field Manual are needed. Torture or abuses in any form are neither acceptable nor necessary in protectingthe United States."

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.2 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.

For more information, please go to www.amnestyusa.org.

SOURCE Amnesty International