Media Release
Wednesday April 18, 2007 9:00am WST
For Immediate Release
No Embargoes

"The US Refugee Exchange program as announced by Immigration Minister is useful for the US Administration, in the context of the looming closure demands by the US courts, as well as the increasing pressure on the US Administration coming from the changing political landscape in South America, starting with Cuba, over the future of the Guantanamo Bay facility," WA Rights group Project SafeCom said.

(source link and summary below)

"Not only can the US Administration now start to offload to Australia those Cuban and Haitian outcasts who are held in Guantanamo it does not want, but it can also start negotiating covertly with the Australian government about the transfer to Australia of others held at Guantanamo."

"We could envisage that any transfers to Australia, from Guantanamo Bay will happen on military flights, and we could also consider it likely that these flights will first fly to the Christmas Island detention centre, rather than on to the Australian mainland," spokesman Jack H Smit said.

"Perhaps we will soon be able to conclude what the true reasons are for the building of the Christmas Island detention centre," Mr Smit concluded.

Jack H Smit
Project SafeCom Inc.
[phone number posted]

A Constructive Plot to Return Guantanamo Nay to CCuba in the Near Future

Council on Hemispheric Affairs
COHA Research Staff
March 15th, 2007

SEGMENT: *Washington may be Losing its Right, let Alone its Political Ability to Maintain its Control over Guantanamo* The Bush administration has made several declarations expressing its willingness to help Cuba make a smooth transition to a Washington-approved "democracy," achieved through a "soft landing." This transition would take effect upon Fidel Castro's death or complete incapacitation (taking note of the Cuba leader's botched operation and subsequent reports of his fragile health). However, one complex issue that is only now being raised is the judicial basis for the U.S.-occupied naval base at Guantanamo.

FULL ARTICLE AT http://www.coha.org/2007/03/15/a-constructive-plot-to-return-guantanamo-bay-to-cuba-in-the-near-future/