Lack of interpreters hampers Gitmo lawyers

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- A new road block may greet the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detainees seeking federal court hearings, their attorneys say -- a shortage of interpreters.

In response to the interpreter shortage, lawyers for some 265 detainees said they've asked the federal government to increase the hours and days they may confer with their clients at Guantanamo to maximize use of their interpreters, The Washington Post reported Wednesday. Lawyers now may visit their clients only on work days for two three-hour periods each day.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that terrorism suspects held at the military prison in Cuba had a right to seek their release in a federal civilian court.

"The shortage of interpreters will pose a problem, because it's already difficult enough to get to Guantanamo and to see one's client," said Martha Rayner, a lawyer who represents two detainees. "But without an interpreter, the meeting can't take place."

The Defense Department is working as fast as it can to get clearance for interpreters to work at Guantanamo and that restrictions on who may speak to detainees "are necessary to protect national security," U.S. Navy Cmdr. Jeffrey Gordon, a Pentagon spokesman, told the Post.