Question about PoW's

[Lonyo]

If you take PoW's, are you meant to release them after war has finished, or can you keep them prisoner after the war has been "ended"?

 

[UltraQuiet]

The Geneva Convention says they are to be returned at the end of hostilities.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: Ultra Quiet
The Geneva Convention says they are to be returned at the end of hostilities.

Article 118:

Prisoners of war shall be released and repatriated without delay after the cessation of active hostilities.

In the absence of stipulations to the above effect in any agreement concluded between the Parties to the conflict with a view to the cessation of hostilities, or failing any such agreement, each of the Detaining Powers shall itself establish and execute without delay a plan of repatriation in conformity with the principle laid down in the foregoing paragraph.

 

[LilBlinbBlahIce]

... or sent to Guantano Bay. Oh wait, those were "enemy combattants", my bad.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: LilBlinbBlahIce
... or sent to Guantano Bay. Oh wait, those were "enemy combattants", my bad.

I find it interesting to read article 5:

Should any doubt arise as to whether persons, having committed a belligerent act and having fallen into the hands of the enemy, belong to any of the categories enumerated in Article 4, such persons shall enjoy the protection of the present Convention until such time as their status has been determined by a competent tribunal.

Apparently, the status of those men has not been determined: why are they not being afforded the full provisions of the Geneva Convention?

 

[Lonyo]

Because the US is holding them and George Bush is just as bad in some ways as anyone else he claims is a threat or terrorist.
Note: in some ways.

Also, there was a thing in an article about an Iraqi scientist being held in Iraq, and they haddn't decided his situation yet either, and until they had he was not being given a lawyer or being released.

 

[heartsurgeon]

the status of those men has not been determined

well actually, i believe they are classified as "illegal combatants"