TASSC Takes MCA Repeal Campaign to Speaker’s Doorstep.

TASSC Takes MCA Repeal Campaign to Speaker’s Doorstep.

CONTACT: Paul Magno, Coordinator

Ph. 202-529-2991

Fx. 202-529-8334

Email: pmagno [at] tassc.org

Web: http://www.tassc.org


PRESS ADVISORY March 14, 2007


The Torture Abolition & Survivors Support (TASSC International) announces its plan to begin presenting petitions to Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi later this week.

TASSC International is an organization formed and led by torture survivors. It is committed to bringing an end to the practice of torture worldwide.

TASSC International began a petition drive as part of its Campaign to Repeal the Torture Law last Fall. The petition, which has been signed by over three thousand people, calls on the Speaker to take action to repeal the Military Commissions Act of 2006, which became law at the President’s signature last October 17th.

The Act, ostensibly with detainees at Guantanamo Bay in mind, established broad presidential authority to designate captives as “ enemy combatants” and to determine their subsequent treatment. It also denied legal recourse to “habeus corpus” to such detainees and validated coerced, secret and hearsay testimony at trial against detainees. Finally it provided substantial assurances against criminal liability for any mistreatment inflicted on detainees for those responsible at all levels. The Act, upon its passage, immediately drew strong criticism from around the world and TASSC International is one of a number of human rights organizations that have expressed their opposition to it.

Beginning this month, TASSC International intends to present collected petitions to the Office of the Speaker in installments on the 17th of each month. “ By doing so,” stated Paul Magno, the Campaign Coordinator, “we hope to impress on Ms. Pelosi the urgency of Congressional action to repair the damage done by adoption of the draconian law in the first place. We have discredited our country in the eyes of the world, undermined the ideals of democracy and the rule of law, and legitimized torture, striking fear into the hearts of friend and foe alike, with this law.”

TASSC International has requested the opportunity to meet with representatives of Speaker Pelosi’s office this week to present the first of the petitions and is awaiting confirmation of that meeting.

###