Fiction
“Imagine
a future, 10 years from now or 20 years from now, when the United States of
America is still holding people who have been charged with no crime, on a piece
of land that is not part of our country.
Is that who we are? Is that
something that our founders foresaw?”
Saleem
Syed’s ears stood up. Could the
President of America have really said that?
The
TV was broadcasting Barack Obama’s speech on national security. Saleem’s hand moved impulsively to his mobile
phone.
“Can
you arrange for me a visit to Guantanamo Bay?”
“Tough,
boy, but I can try. What gives you the
idea, however?” It was the editor-publisher
of the weekly for which Saleem had been working as a journalist for years.
In
a couple of days’ time his editor-publisher got him the permission to visit
Gitmo, as Guantanamo is known among people closely associated with it. T&C applied, of course.
Surrounded
by the sea where the steep hills did not reach, the prison camp stood like
Dracula’s fort silhouetted against the
sinking sun as Saleem watched it from John Paul Jones Hill.
“We’ll
draw lots to decide which prisoner you can interview personally,” said the
Commander of the Joint Task Force – Guantanamo.
Only carefully selected names will be in the draw, knew Saleem. T&C applied everywhere.
The
lot fell on Abdul, an Afghan.
“War
is in our blood,” said Abdul. “When we
didn’t fight with Russians or the Americans, we fought with the neighbouring
tribe.”
Abdul
said that he was a warrior whom the neighbouring tribes loved to hate. So they got him into Guantanamo.
“The
American helicopters would drop leaflets every once in a while in the tribal
areas,” said Abdul, “offering $5000 per terrorist caught. Five thousand dollars is a huge lot of money
for any Afghan, you know. I was sold for
that sum.”
There
was a sign of the Al Qaeda on Abdul’s Casio F-91W watch. That was enough proof for the CIA which
decided that Abdul was a terrorist.
“Are
you a terrorist?” asked Saleem.
“Who
can be worse terrorists than America?” asked Abdul in return. “They fuck everyone in the world. If they cannot do it literally, they do it in
the name of democracy. Or in the name of
economic liberalisation.” Disdain foamed
in his mouth and he swallowed it. “Allah
has given each people their own land to live in the way they deem best. Why does America walk with an erect cock on
all those lands pretending that fucking is America’s birthright and sole
obligation to the world? There have been
prisoners from 48 countries here, you know.
How did 48 countries become enemies of America? ”
“Are
you a terrorist?” asked Saleem again.
“I
want America to leave us alone. Is that
terrorism?”
“Were
you ever part of any terrorist attack anywhere?” Saleem changed his question.
“No,”
said Abdul after looking into Saleem’s eyes for a while. “I’m not a terrorist and never wanted to be
one.” He said that he was just another
Afghan who worked in his field during the day and spent time with his family in
the night. Yes, he did fight
occasionally with some fellow or the other from another tribe. That too was part of the harsh life in the
desert.
“What
will you do if you are set free from here?”
“I
want to see my daughter. She is eleven
years old now. I haven’t ever seen
her. She was born the night I was
arrested. I was taking my wife to
hospital for the delivery. I was
arrested on the way. And the scare made
my wife deliver the baby in the van itself, before reaching the hospital. I want to meet her, my daughter. I want to love...”
He
broke off.
“You
are a journalist and you know how much of what people say may be true,” said
the military officer who escorted Saleem out of the prison camp. “Look,” said the officer. He was pointing at the wall opposite a prison
cell. The wall carried many stains which
looked like shallow dollops of filth. “Faeces
and urine. They mix it and throw it at
the guards passing by.”
“I
want to love...” Abdul’s words
distracted Saleem away from the faeces and urine.
The
sun was sinking into the Caribbean Sea as Saleem walked out of the cage of
barbed wires and tall walls.
PS. This story was inspired by a report, “The Week Goes Inside Gitmo,”
in The Week [October 27, 2013].
I had read articles in a few magazines regarding the inhumane approach of the American millitary men with prisoners in the detention centers. Most heart rendering and awe strinking presentation of this brutishness was seen by me the movie 'New York'. The extent of misery cannot be expressed.. It was simply snatchng away one's identity and right to be treated as human. This one is again a heart touching note on the inhumanity, the so called first world country bears. I respect your idea and feelings regarding the issue.... and this one's an artpiece.
ReplyDeleteGitmo is a symbol, Namrata. A symbol of the power that America wields over the world. It's not just military power, not brutish power alone, it's also an economic power. America controls the world.
DeleteThat's collateral damage for all kinds of war. Extremely sad but is very real. Although it might be very tempting to see this is as the reflection of a people but Obama got elected on his anti-Gitmo plank but 5 years hence, nothing. Nothing at all.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny to think how readily America has internalized Mao's adage into it's foreign policy - 'Power flows through the barrel of the gun'. The difference being, while China is overt about it, US is pretty covert.
Of course, not every American supports Guantanamo, or for that matter, many of America's foreign policies. But we judge the country by what it does officially rather than what the people want personally.
DeleteLet these words open the eyes at least a few of this blogging community .the world will find isolate them in a day .thank you .jk
ReplyDeleteBloggers can do much in this area... Thanks.
DeleteThis is a touching story!
ReplyDeleteHow many such Abduls are languishing!
I hope all changes soon.
Changes come too slowly, Indrani. And in some cases, they never come. International politics is one such place: only power games. And a lot of innocent people suffer.
DeleteLovely piece of work... Yes, it is sad to see the power US holds over the rest of the world... There might be many worse off than Abdul for all we know.. Rather sad state of affairs...
ReplyDeleteThanks, seets. I'm sure I have portrayed a much less bleak world that it actually is at Guantanamo.
Deletei have read much about the bay....all i can say is Allah help them set them free .
ReplyDeleteGood work :)
Let goodness prevail!
DeleteEvery time I read something like this and I hate human race. Unfortunately, we are without humanity. :(
ReplyDeleteTrue, Pankti, our humanity is being eroded relentlessly... we can't afford to be human anymore!
Delete