Despite constant repetition of the word “transparency” by US military officials at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, RT went to the base to see first-hand the trademark obfuscation that guides the world’s view of the secretive prison.
RT’s Anastasia Churkina went to Guantanamo Bay to report on media access to
the conditions at the prison. She saw for herself just how
operators of the notorious prison housing supposed terror
suspects - half of which have been cleared
for release but are still held due to security concerns and some
who have languished for years simply waiting for charges -
attempt to portray a kinder, gentler Gitmo as opposed to its
reputation as a legal black hole, void of consistent standards
and protocols since its opening following the 9/11 attacks in the
US.
Churkina reports that her experience at the camp was
highly-managed, and any attempts by her or her cameraman to get a
true glimpse at detainee life were quickly prevented.
“Even though transparency’s a word brought up by all the
personnel we talked to on the ground, we, as journalists - access
to detainees aside - are asked to be very careful about the shots
we filmed, all the backdrops,” Churkina reports. “At the
end of each day, videos are reviewed, and any shots deemed
unacceptable are deleted.”
She says not only are audio and video censored by Gitmo
personnel, but sketches are carefully studied and cell phones are
outright banned.
“The said purpose of these ground rules? To protect the safety
and security of Gitmo operations,” Churkina reports, saying
she received a mandatory introduction to media rules called an
“Operation Security Briefing.”
“We are warned violations of ground rules may result in
restricted access, denial of future visits and/or removal from
Guantanamo.”
RT’s only opportunity to see a detainee - through a dark-glass
window - lasts barely one minute. When asking for more, she’s
told by a high-ranking admiral the policy of shielding detainees
from journalist is based “out of respect for them and not
making them ... some curiosity on film ... we don’t want to do
that.”
Churkina reports maybe the next-best insight they got into
detainees’ lives occurred during their tour of Gitmo’s cafeteria
and what the prisoners are fed. As for a snapshot into base life
for personnel, they were taken to the local radio station for
those living on the US Navy installation at the southern edge of
Cuba.
“Music, sports and talk radio. Pure infotainment reigns
here,” Churkina reports. “And so we learn we’re not the
only ones simply being treated to a show.”