GENEVA, Switzerland - February 6, 2011 - Former U.S. President George W. Bush has cancelled a visit to Switzerland this week amid concerns he could be arrested.
The former president had been due to speak at a Jewish charity gala, making the keynote speech at Keren Hayesod’s annual dinner on February 12.
But human rights groups in the country have been calling for the Swiss government to arrest him over allegations he ordered the torture of prisoners at at Guantanamo Bay.
Campaigners said they had intended to submit a 2500-page case against Bush for alleged mistreatment of suspected militants at the U.S. naval base in Cuba where captives from Afghanistan, Iraq and other fronts in the so-called War on Terror were interned.
Court officials said criminal complaints against Bush have been lodged in Geneva but Swiss officials confirmed he would enjoy some diplomatic immunity as a former head of state.
Torture is a crime under international law and human rights experts say absolute prohibition is very clear.
Some left wing groups had called for a protest on the day of his visit, next Saturday.
Keren Hayesod’s organizers said they felt the atmosphere had become too threatening.
The group’s lawyer, Robert Equey, said, “We didn’t want to put people and property in Geneva at risk. The gala is maintained but George Bush will not take part. The criminal complaints did not weigh in the decision.”
But groups including the New York-based Human Rights Watch and International Federation of Human Rights said the cancellation was linked to growing moves to hold Bush accountable for torture, including waterboarding. He has admitted in his memoirs and TV interviews to ordering use of the interrogation technique that simulates drowning.