3 Chinese among 164 detainees in US' Guantanamo Bay prison

As many as 164 detainees, including three Chinese, have been lodged in one of the world's most infamous prisons Guantanamo Bay, also known as Gitmo, in the United States.
Of these detainees, 84 have been cleared for release to either their homes or to another country and President Barack Obama has appointed Clifford Sloan, a senior Washington Attorney as his envoy for the purpose, said a report by an Indian journalist of 'The Week' magazine who claimed to be the first medIaperson to have ever visited the prison.
The three Chinese are Uyghur Muslims who had fled to escape persecution. They crossed into Pakistan and were apprehended and sold for bounties. The other inmates are from 22 different countries, the report said.

Th US authorities categorically denied having tortured any of the detainees and have given assurances of a fair trial to them.
"When it comes to anything beyond interview-type interrogation, we do not do that here. That does not happen here," Rear Admiral Richard Butler, who is in-charge of the Gitmo, told the reporter when asked about the way to interrogate detainees.
Butler said: "we talk to detainees. And if they are willing to give information, we listen to them. We talk to them on voluntary basis when it comes to interrogations".

He said the administration was dealing with the hunger strikes started by some of the prisoners for past some years.

"There have been hunger strikes here over the years for various reasons. The current one started early this year. There was this strong desire from the detainees to have their voices heard about their conditions...
"We are making sure that the detainees are observed medically for any weight loss. When it becomes a threat to their lives, we deal (with it) accordingly," said Butler.
As many as 19 prisoners are on hunger strikes, claimed the report.
The prison is located 840 km off Miami, on the US east coast, and is spread over 120 sq km. The strength of the prison, currently 164, exceeded 750 at its peak.

The cost of operating the prison in 2013 was USD 454 million (Rs 2,794.89 crore), about USD 2.77 million (Rs 17 crore) per prisoner.
The prison has 65-year-old Saifullah Paracha, a Pakistani businessman, oldest detainee and Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, top al Qaeda commander who planned 9/11 attacks.