UN investigators decline Gitmo invitation unless detainees can be interviewed News
UN investigators decline Gitmo invitation unless detainees can be interviewed

[JURIST] Three UN human rights experts who were invited [JURIST report] last Friday by the Pentagon to examine conditions at Guantanamo Bay prison [JURIST news archive] said [UN press release] Monday that they will refuse the invitation unless they are allowed to interview detainees. The Pentagon said Friday that the experts would not be speaking with the 505 detainees because such interviews were the responsibility of the International Committee of the Red Cross [official website]. The experts are part of a Special Procedures group overseen by the UN Commission on Human Rights [official website], and have been requesting access [UN press release] to Gitmo since 2002. The experts are also concerned that a one-day visit as offered by the Pentagon would not be enough to fully examine the prison. Human rights watchdogs have been increasingly concerned [JURIST report] with the situation at Gitmo since reports surfaced this fall that hunger-striking detainees were being forcibly fed by US personnel. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.