June 26, 2003	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 25,1424

NEW YORK, June 25: US military commissions set up by President Bush to try terrorist suspects risk violating the basic rights of the accused in their current form, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.

In a special briefing paper, the New York-based rights monitor argued that nobody should be tried unless the commissions’ rules are significantly overhauled.

Under the existing rules, the paper said, the commissions deny suspects due process, produce verdicts of questionable legitimacy and send the message that justice is expendable in the “fight against terrorism”.

“The commissions are a discredit to American traditions of justice,” said Jamie Fellner, director of Human Rights Watch’s US Program.

“The Department of Defense should go back to the drawing board,” he added.

Mr Bush ordered the creation of the commissions following the Sept 11, 2001, attacks.—AFP