Robert Gates Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State U. S. Department of State
2201 C Street, N. W. Washington DC 20520
Fax: + 1 202 261 8577
E-mail: Secretary@state.gov

Gordon England Deputy
Secretary of Defense
1010 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1010

J. Alan Liotta
Principal Director Office of Detainee Affairs
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense
2900 Defense Pentagon
Washington DC 20301-2900 USA

President George W Bush The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461

Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby
Commander Joint Task Force
Guantánamo Department of Defense
Joint Task Force Guantánamo
Guantánamo Bay, Cuba
APO AE 09360
Fax: +1 305 437 1241

Mr. Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao
Federal Minister of the Interior
Room No. 404, 4th Floor, R Block
Pak Secretariat
Islamabad, Pakistan
Fax: 0092-51-9202624
E-mail minister@interior.gov.pk

PLEASE BE SURE TO CC ALL ADDRESSES ABOVE of course, edit as you like.

THE LETTER

RE: Urgent need to ensure just treatment and medical care for Saifullah Paracha   Dear Secretary Gates;As a concerned American (Other nationalities can remove this), I urge you to investigate the case of Saifullah Paracha, a Pakistan national currently detained at Guantanamo Bay. He was scheduled to fly to Thailand for a business meeting on July 5, 2003, but never arrived at the meeting. For the next month, his family had no idea of his whereabouts. Saifullah Parachas wife made inquiries with the Pakistani and Thai authorities in an attempt to find out what happened to her husband, but received no answers. The family eventually learned from NBC news that Saifullah Paracha and his son had been detained by U. S. authorities. Some time later, Mr. Parachas wife received a letter via the International Committee of the Red Cross explaining that Mr. Paracha was being held at the U. S. air base at Bagram, north of Kabul. It appears that he had been transferred into U. S. custody without reference to any legal safeguards. He has since been transferred to Guantanamo Bay. Amnesty International reports that detainees at Guantanamo are denied access to lawyers, families, and courts. Former detainees have reported being subjected to prolonged kneeling or standing, hooding, 24-hour lighting, sleep deprivation, and being kept in painful or awkward positions. In light of the appalling allegations that continue to emerge concerning the treatment of detainees in U. S. custody in Iraq and Afghanistan, we fear for Saifullah Parachas safety and well being. Mr. Paracha is very ill, and has had three heart attacks since he’s been in US custody. He has diabetes as well as other severe health problems. He needs treatment and he should be with his family. I ask for justice for Saifullah Paracha. I urge that he be released immediately unless he is promptly charged with a recognizable criminal offense. I also urge that he be brought to trial within a reasonable time in proceedings that fully comply with international standards. Thank you for your full and careful consideration of this very urgent matter. Most Sincerely,