Photo By Brandon Hubbard | A family embraces a former detainee at a Lion's Dawn release ceremony at Camp Cropper...... read more read more
By Spc. Brandon Hubbard
Task Force 134
BAGHDAD, Iraq – The families of 21 detainees entered Victory Base Complex to visit their family member today –and bring him home. The detainees had been determined to no longer be security threats and were released after a brief ceremony led by Iraqi officials.
"I am happy to be standing in front of these free men willing to participate in building and securing their country," said Hadi Al-aameri, the chairman of the Council of Representatives' Committee on Defense and Security.
"Iraq today is secured more than ever," Al-aameri said. "We all are Iraqis and have to live together - our families are related to each other."
Coalition forces have released over 10,000 detainees so far in 2008, already more than were released in all of 2007. At this rate, the number of releases is on track to almost double 2007's figure of almost 9,000.
There are currently about 20,000 coalition detainees at two locations in Iraq - Camp Cropper and Camp Bucca.
"We are committed to the safe care and custody of our detainees," said Brig. Gen. Robert Hipwell, commander of the 300th Military Police Brigade, the unit responsible for oversight of Camp Cropper and other locations in Iraq. "We are also committed to releasing them when they are no longer a security threat."
While in coalition facilities, detainees are given culturally appropriate meals, access to the same medical care in the same facilities that all military personnel receive, and opportunities for educational improvement. Detainees can gain basic literacy, take art classes, and improve their employability by learning a vocation such as carpentry, masonry or tiling.
Close ties with the family also improves the detainee's chances of not returning to detention.
Detainees may visit with family members for an hour each week, and they may send and receive mail. Travel stipends are available for families from outside the local area, and Victory Base offers video-teleconferencing for virtual "visits." This connection to family and community aids in the transition home.
An average of 50 persons are released every day.
| Date Taken: | 08.14.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.14.2008 14:30 |
| Story ID: | 22486 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 598 |
| Downloads: | 563 |
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