Thursday, November 5, 2009

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Amherst offers home to Guantanamo detainees

AMHERST, Mass. -- A Massachusetts town has voted in favor of inviting two men detained at Guantanamo Bay military prison to resettle in the community, if they are ultimately cleared of terrorism ties and released.

Amherst Town Meeting on Wednesday called on Congress to repeal the ban on allowing cleared detainees to live in the United States and then moved to invite two to town.

The petition article was brought forward by Pioneer Valley No More Guantanamos.

Select Board member Gerry Weiss spoke in favor of granting asylum to cleared detainees to make amends for unjust suffering.

Board Chairwoman Stephanie O'Keeffe said Town Meeting doesn't have expertise to offer meaningful guidance to Washington, and is concerned that the gesture could be misinterpreted as sympathy for terrorists.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)