John Edmundson

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Captain John Edmundson USN is the chief doctor at the Guantanamo Bay detainment camps, in Cuba.^[1]

During a reporter's tour of the 48 bed facility in January 2005, Edmundson revealed, in an off-hand comment, that 23 detainees had tried to hang themselves in a simultaneous mass-suicide bid in late 2003.^[1]

Following the June 10, 2006 suicide bed Edmundson told reporters that the three men had all had routine Psychological tests administered because they were participating in the recent hunger strike.^[2][3] Edmundson said that the men showed no sign of despair or suicidal tendencies.

Edmundson's boss, Admiral Harry Harris, stirred controversy by calling the suicides "acts of asymmetrical warfare".^[4] A June 28, 2006 Los Angeles Times article quotes Edmundson: "If you ask my opinion, I agree with the admiral that this was somewhat of a political statement."

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Kicked out of Gitmo: A Times reporter's struggle to get the truth about America's island prison just got tougher, Los Angeles Times, June 18, 2006
2. ^ Official: Gitmo Prisoners Waging 'Jihad', Associated Press, June 28, 2006
3. ^ Guantanamo Bay suicide prisoners 'showed no sign of being depressed', The Independent, June 28, 2006
4. ^ Guantanamo Officials Say They Can't Stop All Suicides: New searches and special gear help, but administrators maintain that prisoners harm themselves as part of a 'campaign against us.', Los Angeles Times, June 28, 2006