2009年にアメリカ軍兵で唯一アフガニスタンの反政府武装勢力タリバンに拘束されていたボウ・バーグダール陸軍軍曹(28)が、キューバのグアンタナモ基地に収容されていた5人の抑留者と引き換えの形で5年ぶりに解放された。ワシントン・ポスト他が5月31日伝えた。
ボウ・バーグダール陸軍軍曹(28)
ボウ・バーグダール軍曹は2009年6月30日以来囚われの身になっていた。BBCによると、中東のカタールを介して解放された。アフガニスタンのバグラム空軍基地で検査を受け、健康状態は良好だという。
バーグダール軍曹はドイツにあるアメリカ軍メディカルセンターに移送される予定だ。
今回の解放に関して、オバマ大統領は次のような声明を発表した。
本日、アメリカ国民にとってうれしいニュースが届いた。我々はボウ・バーグダール軍曹を迎えることができるようになった。彼は5年近く拘束されていた。アメリカ国民を代表して、私は彼の両親に良い知らせを伝えられるのを大変光栄に思う。彼が無事に帰還できる見込みに対する我々の喜び、そしてこのような試練を乗り越えた彼ら家族の勇気と犠牲を心に留めていたことを家族に表明した。本日、我々はアメリカの過去の戦争の中で多くの部隊が囚われの身になっていること、そしてその中には依然として行方不明のままであることを改めて思い起こした。バーグダール軍曹の帰還は、軍服を身にまとった男性ならびに女性兵士を戦地に置き去りにしないというアメリカの揺るぎない決意があることを改めて気づかせてくれた。そして我々はボウの帰還に安堵した今、我々が求め続ける解放への思いと祈りをアメリカ国民全体と共にもちたい。
ハフィントンポストUS版によると、オバマ大統領はホワイトハウスにバーグダール軍曹の家族を迎え、演説を行った。その中でオバマ大統領はボウのことを「決して忘れることはなかった」と述べ、一人の親として彼らが過ごしてきた「困難を想像する」ことは容易にできない、とした。
ボウ・バーグダール陸軍軍曹の家族と共に会見するオバマ大統領
さらにオバマ大統領は「我々は再び団結するこの瞬間を待ち望んでいた」と付け加えた。
バーグダール軍曹の解放は、オバマ大統領がアフガンに駐留する米軍を撤退させる計画を発表した数日後に実現した。この計画では2014年までに戦闘部隊を撤退させた後もアフガン国軍の訓練などのために約1万人を駐留させ、オバマ大統領の任期末となる2016年末までにすべての駐留部隊を撤退させることになっている。
「我々も、戦争で囚われの身になっている我が国の人間たちを家に帰還させるという、鉄のように固い決意を守り続ける。それがアメリカ人としてあるべき姿だ」とオバマ大統領は述べた。
■ グアンタナモ米軍基地とは
今回バーグダール軍曹の解放と引き換えにアメリカが拘束しているタリバン兵士5人が解放されるが、彼らが収容されているグアンタナモ米軍基地とはどのような施設なのだろうか。コトバンクでは次のように説明している。
キューバ南東部のグアンタナモにある米国海軍の基地。1902年にスペインから独立したキューバは翌1903年、独立を援助した米国に対してグアンタナモ基地の永久租借を認めた。そのため、1961年に両国の国交が断絶した後も、この地に米国海軍基地が置かれている。2002年よりイスラム過激派のテロ容疑者を収容する施設が設けられたが、容疑者への拷問や虐待が繰り返し報告され、ジュネーブ条約に基づく権利が守られていないことから、国連は収容所の閉鎖を勧告。米国連邦最高裁も2004年と2006年に違憲判決を下したが、「テロとの戦い」を掲げる当時のブッシュ政権下で収容所は存続した。2009年1月、オバマ米国大統領は収容所の閉鎖や拷問の禁止などを定めた大統領令に署名した。
グアンタナモ米軍基地
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