The secret US prisons you've never heard of before | Will Potter

譯者: Harry Chen 審譯者: Xiaoxiang Wang

Father Daniel Berrigan once said that "writing about prisoners

貝瑞岡神父曾說過：

「側寫囚犯有點像在側寫死人。」

is a little like writing about the dead."

I think what he meant is that we treat prisoners as ghosts.

我認為他所指的是 我們對待囚犯好比鬼魂一樣，

They're unseen and unheard.

他們是不被看見、聽到的；

It's easy to simply ignore them

單單要忽略他們已是很容易的事，

and it's even easier when the government goes to great lengths to keep them hidden.

而當政府竭盡所能地掩蓋這群人的存在時， 我們就更容易忽略他們了。

As a journalist, I think these stories

身為一名記者

我認為當沒人注意時握有權力的人 做了什麼事情的這些報導

of what people in power do when no one is watching,

are precisely the stories that we need to tell.

正是我們需要講出來的報導，

That's why I began investigating

那是我為什麼開始調查

the most secretive and experimental prison units in the United States,

在美國裡最隱密和試驗型的監獄單位，

for so-called "second-tier" terrorists.

給所謂「次級恐怖份子」的人來用；

The government calls these units Communications Management Units or CMUs.

政府稱呼這些單位為 互動聯絡管理單位或叫 CMU，

Prisoners and guards call them "Little Guantanamo."

犯人和警衛們叫它們「小關塔那摩」。

They are islands unto themselves.

它們就是自家上面的島嶼，

But unlike Gitmo they exist right here, at home,

但是不像關塔那摩 － 它們存在於這裡、在我們的家門裡，

floating within larger federal prisons.

漂泊在更大的聯邦監獄裡。

There are 2 CMUs.

有著兩個 CMU：

One was opened inside the prison in Terre Haute, Indiana,

一個啟用在印地安納州 特雷霍特的監獄裡面，

and the other is inside this prison, in Marion, Illinois.

還有另一個啟用在伊利諾州 馬里昂的監獄裡面；

Neither of them underwent the formal review process

當它們兩個受啟用時

that is required by law when they were opened.

全都沒有遵照法律規定的正式審查程序。

CMU prisoners have all been convicted of crimes.

CMU 的囚犯全都已經定罪完了，

Some of their cases are questionable and some involve threats and violence.

有一些案例啟人疑竇， 而有一些則涉及脅迫與暴力；

I'm not here to argue the guilt or innocence of any prisoner.

我不是要在這裡爭論 任何受刑人有罪或是冤枉，

I'm here because as Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall said,

我在這邊是因為如同最高法院法官 瑟古德．馬歇爾曾說過：

"When the prisons and gates slam shut,

「當監獄與門道砰然關閉，

prisoners do not lose their human quality."

囚犯們並未失去他們的人權」。

Every prisoner I've interviewed has said there are three flecks of light

每一位我曾經訪問過的囚犯都說 在監獄的沉黑裡

in the darkness of prison:

有著三個小光點：

phone calls,

電話、信函以及家人探視，

letters

and visits from family.

CMUs aren't solitary confinement, but they radically restrict all of these

CMU 並非單人拘禁不過它們 偏激地侷限所有這些事項，

to levels that meet or exceed the most extreme prisons in the United States.

達到甚或超出在美國 最極端之監獄的水準。

Their phone calls can be limited to 45 minutes a month,

它的電話能被設限在 1 個月是 45 分鐘，

compared to the 300 minutes other prisoners receive.

對比於其他囚犯所得到的 300 分鐘、

Their letters can be limited to six pieces of paper.

它的信函能被設限在六張紙、

Their visits can be limited to four hours per month,

它的探視能被設限在每月 4 個小時，

compared to the 35 hours that people like Olympic Park bomber Eric Rudolph

對比於奧林匹克公園炸彈客 艾瑞克．魯多夫

receive in the supermax.

最多所獲得的 35 個小時。

On top of that, CMU visits are non-contact which means prisoners are not allowed

更甚者 CMU 的探視是無法肢體碰觸的，

這表示囚犯就連擁抱家人也不被寬容；

to even hug their family.

As one CMU prisoner said,

如同一位 CMU 的囚犯曾講過的，

"We're not being tortured here, except psychologically."

「我們在這裡並未受到折磨， 除了心理上來說」。

The government won't say who is imprisoned here.

政府不會告知你誰被關在這裡面，

But through court documents, open records requests

但是透過法庭公文、申請公開紀錄、

and interviews with current and former prisoners,

採訪當今和前囚犯，

some small windows into the CMUs have opened.

些許探進 CMU 的窗口已經打開了。

There's an estimated 60 to 70 prisoners here,

那邊被估計有著 60 到 70 位囚犯，

and they're overwhelmingly Muslim.

而且絕大多數是穆斯林，

They include people like Dr. Rafil Dhafir,

他們裡面包括了像是 拉斐爾．達菲爾醫生，

who violated the economic sanctions on Iraq by sending medical supplies

他違反了對伊拉克的經濟制裁 －

為了那邊的小孩寄送醫療用品過去。

for the children there.

They've included people like Yassin Aref.

他們曾經包括像是亞辛．埃勒夫，

Aref and his family fled to New York from Saddam Hussein's Iraq as refugees.

埃勒夫和他的家人從海珊的伊拉克 充做難民逃往紐約，

He was arrested in 2004 as part of an FBI sting.

他在 2004 年被逮捕是 FBI 臥底行動的一部份，

Aref is an imam and he was asked to bear witness to a loan,

埃勒夫是個伊瑪目 而他受邀見證一筆貸款，

which is a tradition in Islamic culture.

此為伊斯蘭文化裡的傳統，

It turned out that one of the people involved in the loan was trying to enlist

結果該貸款所涉入的其中一人企圖列進

someone else in a fake attack.

在一場虛假攻擊中某人的名字，

Aref didn't know.

埃勒夫並不知情，

For that, he was convicted

因為那樣他被定罪於間諜和 提供物資協助給恐怖份子團體。

of conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist group.

The CMUs also include some non-Muslim prisoners.

CMU 也包含了一些非穆斯林囚犯，

The guards call them "balancers,"

警衛們叫他們「中和成分」－

meaning they help balance out the racial numbers,

表示他們有助於平衡族群的人數，

in hopes of deflecting law suits.

寄望偏移法律告訴；

These balancers include animal rights and environmental activists

這些中和成分包含了動物權與 環保運動人士，

like Daniel McGowan.

像是丹尼爾．麥加文。

McGowan was convicted of participating in two arsons

麥加文被定罪於參與了兩場

in the name of defending the environment

「大地自由前線」以 護守環境為名的縱火案，

as part of the Earth Liberation Front.

During his sentencing, he was afraid that he would be sent

在判刑的期間裡他擔心他可能會被送到

to a rumored secret prison for terrorists.

謠傳中給恐怖分子用的隱密監獄，

The judge dismissed all those fears,

法官消除了所有那些恐懼，

saying that they weren't supported by any facts.

說它們未受到任何事實的佐證。

But that might be because the government hasn't fully explained

不過那可能是因為政府還未詳實地解釋

why some prisoners end up in a CMU,

為什麼有些囚犯最終到了 CMU 裡？

and who is responsible for these decisions.

以及誰對這些決定有負責的？

When McGowan was transferred, he was told

當麥加文被移送時他被告知

it's because he is a "domestic terrorist,"

那是因為他是個「國內恐怖分子」，

a term the FBI uses repeatedly when talking about environmental activists.

當提到環保運動人士時 FBI 再三用到的術語。

Now, keep in mind there are about 400 prisoners in US prisons

現在記清楚了大概有著 400 個囚犯在美國的監獄裡，

who are classified as terrorists,

這些人被分類為恐怖分子，

and only a handful of them are in the CMUs.

而且其中只有一小部份在 CMU 裡面；

In McGowan's case, he was previously at a low-security prison

麥加文的案例他早先是在 一間低度戒備的監獄，

and he had no communications violations.

而且他沒有違反互動聯絡的規定，

So, why was he moved?

所以為什麼他會被調移呢？

Like other CMU prisoners,

就像其他 CMU 的囚犯，

McGowan repeatedly asked for an answer, a hearing,

麥加文不斷重複地要求 一個解答、一場聽證會、

or some opportunity for an appeal.

或是一次上訴的些許機會，

This example from another prisoner shows how those requests are viewed.

來自另一個囚犯的這個例子 表明了那些申請如何被看待 －

"Wants a transfer." "Told him no."

要移監！告訴他「不行」！

At one point, the prison warden himself recommended McGowan's transfer

有一度監獄典獄長本人提議讓麥加文

out of the CMU citing his good behavior,

轉出 CMU 來表彰他良好的行為，

but the warden was overruled

不過該典獄長被聯邦監獄局 反恐單位打了回票，

by the Bureau of Prison's Counterterrorism Unit,

working with the Joint Terrorism Task Force of the FBI.

該單位與 FBI 聯合反恐 任務部隊在合作。

Later I found out that McGowan was really sent to a CMU

後來我發現到麥加文真正被送到 CMU 不是因為他做過什麼，

not because of what he did,

but what he has said.

卻是他說話的內容；

A memo from the Counterterrorism Unit cited McGowan's "anti-government beliefs."

出自反恐單位的備忘錄 引述了麥加文的反政府信念，

While imprisoned, he continued writing about environmental issues,

在坐牢期間他繼續著述環境議題，

saying that activists must reflect on their mistakes

說活動人士必須認真思考他們的錯誤，

and listen to each other.

以及聽別人怎麼講。

Now, in fairness, if you've spent any time at all in Washington, DC,

持平來說如果你曾經待過 華盛頓特區任何一些時間，

you know this is really a radical concept for the government.

你就知道對政府而言 這真的是激進的想法啊！

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

I actually asked to visit McGowan in the CMU.

我確實請求過要在 CMU 裡探視麥加文，

And I was approved.

而且我就獲准了；

That came as quite a shock.

那真的相當令人吃驚，

First, because as I've discussed on this stage before,

首先因為如同我已經在 這個講台上討論過的，

I learned that the FBI has been monitoring my work.

我早知道 FBI 一直在監看著我的工作，

Second, because it would make me the first and only journalist to visit a CMU.

第二、這會使我成為第一個 以及唯一探訪過 CMU 的記者。

I had even learned

我甚至已從聯邦監獄局的反恐單位得知

through the Bureau of Prisons Counterterrorism Unit,

that they had been monitoring my speeches about CMUs, like this one.

他們早已一直在監看我有關 CMU 的言論 － 就像這一個，

So how could I possibly be approved to visit?

所以我怎麼有可能獲准探訪呢？

A few days before I went out to the prison, I got an answer.

在我出門去監獄的幾天前 我得到答案了。

I was allowed to visit McGowan as a friend, not a journalist.

我被允許當成朋友而非記者 去探視麥加文，

Journalists are not allowed here.

記者是不准進這邊的；

McGowan was told by CMU officials that if I asked any questions

CMU 的官員告訴麥加文 如果我詢問了任何問題

or published any story,

或是發表任何新聞 －

that he would be punished for my reporting.

他將會為了我的報導而受罰。

When I arrived for our visit, the guards reminded me

當我為了探視抵達時警衛們提醒我，

that they knew who I was and knew about my work.

說他們知道我是誰以及我的工作，

And they said that if I attempted to interview McGowan,

而且他們還說假使我意圖 訪問麥加文的話，

the visit would be terminated.

這場探視就會被中斷。

The Bureau of Prisons describes CMUs as "self-contained housing units."

聯邦監獄局形容 CMU 等同 「自我閉鎖的房舍單位」，

But I think that's an Orwellian way of describing black holes.

不過我認為那是歐威爾式的 方法來形容黑洞；

When you visit a CMU,

當你探視 CMU 時

you go through all the security checkpoints that you would expect.

你會走完所有你預期想到的檢查哨，

But then the walk to the visitation room is silent.

但是之後進入會客室的步履是一片寂然。

When a CMU prisoner has a visit, the rest of the prison is on lockdown.

當 CMU 囚犯有人探視時， 其餘的囚犯就是被鎖起來了，

I was ushered into a small room,

我被引領進一個小房間，

so small my outstretched arms could touch each wall.

我伸展開的手臂能夠碰到 各面牆壁如此的小間，

There was a grapefruit-sized orb in the ceiling

那裡有個葡萄般大小的 球狀體在天花板上，

for the visit to be live-monitored by the Counterterrorism Unit

為了讓該探視被位於 西維吉尼亞的反恐單位即時監看；

in West Virginia.

The unit insists that all the visits have to be in English for CMU prisoners,

該單位堅持對 CMU 囚犯 所有的探視必須使用英文，

which is an additional hardship for many of the Muslim families.

此點對許多穆斯林家庭來說 是額外的難關。

There is a thick sheet of foggy, bulletproof glass

那裡有著一片霧面的防彈玻璃，

and on the other side was Daniel McGowan.

而且麥加文就在另一頭，

We spoke through these handsets attached to the wall

我們透過裝在牆上的電話聽筒講話，

and talked about books and movies.

談論著書籍和電影，

We did our best to find reasons to laugh.

我們盡一切努力找到理由來笑；

To fight boredom and amuse himself while in the CMU,

在 CMU 裡面的時候 為了打破沉悶以及自娛，

McGowan had been spreading a rumor that I was secretly the president

麥加文不斷播送一個謠言：

「我是華盛頓特區暮光之城 影迷會的不為人知的會長，

of a Twilight fan club in Washington, DC

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

For the record, I'm not.

在書面紀錄上不是我而已，

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

But I kind of the hope the FBI now thinks that Bella and Edward

不過我有點希望 FBI 現在認為 貝拉還有艾德華是恐怖份子的代號！

are terrorist code names.

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

During our visit, McGowan spoke most and at length about his niece Lily,

在我們的會面裡麥加文談到最多、 最長的是他的姪女莉莉、他的老婆珍妮，

his wife Jenny and how torturous it feels to never be able to hug them,

以及永遠沒辦法去擁抱她們、

to never be able to hold their hands.

親執她們的雙手感覺有多麼折騰。

Three months after our visit, McGowan was transferred out of the CMU

在我們的會面的三個月後 麥加文被轉出了 CMU，

and then, without warning, he was sent back again.

接著完全沒有警訊，他再次被送回去了；

I had published leaked CMU documents on my website

我已經在我的網站上公開發表過 外流的 CMU 的公文資料，

and the Counterterrorism Unit said that McGowan had called his wife

還有反恐單位說麥加文曾經致電他的妻子

and asked her to mail them.

請求她把它們寄出，

He wanted to see what the government was saying about him,

他想要知道政府將會如何說他，

and for that he was sent back to the CMU.

因為這樣他被送回了 CMU。

When he was finally released at the end of his sentence,

當他終於在他刑期結束被釋放了出來，

his story got even more Kafkaesque.

他的事蹟變得甚至更加「卡夫卡式」，

He wrote an article for the Huffington Post headlined,

他寫出一篇文章給赫芬頓郵報做標題為

"Court Documents Prove I was Sent to a CMU for my Political Speech."

「法庭文件證實因為我的政治言論 我被送去了 CMU ！」 。

The next day he was thrown back in jail for his political speech.

隔天就為了他的政治言論 他被逮回監獄裡去，

His attorneys quickly secured his release,

他的律師迅速地確保了他的開釋，

but the message was very clear:

不過訊息非常明確 －

Don't talk about this place.

不要講到這地方。

Today, nine years after they were opened by the Bush administration,

在它們被布希政府啟用九年後的今天，

the government is codifying how and why CMUs were created.

政府正在將 CMU 如何以及 為什麼被創造出來建立規章，

According to the Bureau of Prisons,

根據聯邦監獄局所指

they are for prisoners with "inspirational significance."

它們是用來關帶有 鼓舞型特別意義的囚犯，

I think that is very nice way of saying these are political prisons

我認為這是非常棒的方式來說 這些單位是用來關政治犯的政治監獄。

for political prisoners.

Prisoners are sent to a CMU because of their race,

囚犯們被送往 CMU 是因為其種族、

their religion or their political beliefs.

宗教信仰或是政治理念，

Now, if you think that characterization is too strong,

此刻要是你認為該特點強烈到不行，

just look at some of the government's own documents.

看一些政府自己的公文就好；

When some of McGowan's mail was rejected by the CMU, the sender was told

當部份麥加文的信件 被 CMU 拒收的時候，

it's because the letters were intended "for political prisoners."

寄件人被告知那是因為信函 蓄意要給政治犯的。

When another prisoner, animal rights activist Andy Stepanian,

另一個囚犯 － 動物權運動人士 安迪．史迪佩尼恩

was sent to a CMU, it was because of his anti-government and anti-corporate views.

被送到 CMU 是因為他的 反政府以及反企業觀點。

Now, I know all of this may be hard to believe,

我知道這所有一切很難置信，

that it's happening right now, and in the United States.

此時此刻在美國它持續發生中，

But the unknown reality is that the US has a dark history

不過沒人知道的現實

是美國因為政治上的信仰 有著過度地處罰人民的黑暗歷史。

of disproportionately punishing people because of their political beliefs.

In the 1960s, before Marion was home to the CMU,

在 1960 年代早在馬里昂 是 CMU 的所在地前，

it was home to the notorious Control Unit.

它是惡名昭彰的超級戒備單位監獄，

Prisoners were locked down in solitary for 22 hours a day.

囚犯一天被鎖在緊閉室 22 個小時，

The warden said the unit was to "control revolutionary attitudes."

典獄長曾經說該單位是要管控 具顛覆現狀的品行。

In the 1980s, another experiment called the Lexington High Security Unit

在 1980 年代另一個實驗 叫做萊辛頓高戒備單位，

held women connected to the Weather Underground,

關收與「地下氣象人組織」、

Black Liberation and Puerto Rican independent struggles.

「黑人解放軍」、「波多黎各 獨立奮進會」有牽連的成年女性，

The prison radically restricted communication and used sleep deprivation,

該監獄嚴厲限制通信， 以及採用不讓你睡手段、

and constant light for so-called "ideological conversion."

以及為了所謂的思想改造 不停歇的照亮。

Those prisons were eventually shut down, but only through the campaigning

這些監獄終究被關閉掉了， 不過唯有透過宗教團體

of religious groups and human rights advocates, like Amnesty International.

以及人權運動者像是 「國際特赦組織」的持續奔走。

Today, civil rights lawyers with the Center for Constitutional Rights

今天民權律師加上「憲法權力中心」

are challenging CMUs in court

正在法庭裡質疑 CMU

for depriving prisoners of their due process rights

剝奪囚犯的正當法律程序權利，

and for retaliating against them

以及為了他們受到保護的政治、 宗教性言論找他們算帳，

for their protected political and religious speech.

Many of these documents would have never come to light without this lawsuit.

許多這些公文要是沒有這場訴訟 可能永遠不會曝光。

The message of these groups and my message for you today

這些團體和我在今天要給你們的訊息

is that we must bear witness to what is being done to these prisoners.

是我們必須見證對這些囚犯 做過些什麼事情，

Their treatment is a reflection of the values held beyond prison walls.

他們的處置是監獄牆內價值的映照，

This story is not just about prisoners.

這個故事不只是跟囚犯有關，

It is about us.

它跟我們有關、

It is about our own commitment to human rights.

它跟我們本身對人權的承諾有關、

It is about whether we will choose to stop repeating the mistakes of our past.

它跟我們是否將會選擇停止重複 我們過往的錯誤有關。

If we don't listen to what Father Berrigan described as the stories of the dead,

要是我們不聽教神父貝瑞岡 對前車之鑑的描述，

they will soon become the stories of ourselves.

它們很快就會變成我們自己的寫照，

Thank you.

謝謝你們！

(Applause)

（掌聲）

(Applause ends)

（掌聲結束）

Tom Rielly: I have a couple questions.

湯姆．萊利：我有幾個問題啦，

When I was in high school, I learned about the Bill of Rights,

當我還在高中的時候我學過權利法案、

the Constitution, freedom of speech,

憲法、言論自由、

due process and about 25 other laws and rights

正當法律程序以及 25 種其他法律與權利，

that seem to be violated by this.

那看起來都被這個內容所違背了，

How could this possibly be happening?

這種事如何有機會發生呢？

Will Potter: I think that's the number one question I get

威爾．波特：我想那是我所有的工作

throughout all of my work,

從頭到尾想到的頭號問題，

and the short answer is that people don't know.

而簡短的答案是一般人全然無知，

I think the solution to any of these types of situations, any rights abuses,

我認為對任何這些情境種類、 侵犯權利的解套方法

are really dependent on two things.

真的要靠兩件事情；

They're dependent on knowledge that it's actually happening

它們有賴於得知這真的在發生中、

and then a means and efficacy to actually make a change.

還有接下來有方法和效度 來實際做出改變。

And unfortunately with these prisoners,

很不幸地在這些囚犯週邊的事情，

one, people don't know what's happening at all

第一大家根本並不知道 正在發生些什麼事情，

and then they're already disenfranchised populations

接著的是他們早已經是 被剝奪權利的人口 －

who don't have access to attorneys, not native English speakers.

接洽不到律師、不是天生英文使用者。

In some of these cases, they have great representation that I mentioned,

在這裡面的一些案例中， 我提到過他們有很棒的代言人，

but there's just not a public awareness of what's happening.

不過就是沒有公眾在意 什麼事情正發生中。

TR: Isn't it guaranteed in prison that you have right to council

萊利：在監獄裡你有權利去委員會

or access to council?

或是接洽委員會不是受到保證的嗎？

WP: There's a tendency in our culture

波特：在我們的文化裡

to see when people have been convicted of a crime,

看待當人已經被定罪時有著一種傾向，

no matter if that charge was bogus or legitimate,

不管是否這些起訴是非法或是正當的，

that whatever happens to them after that is warranted.

他們之後會發生些什麼事情都是必要的；

And I think that's a really damaging and dangerous narrative that we have,

而我認為那真的是我們所會有 造成傷害的、危險的描述，

that allows these types of things to happen,

那放任了這些種類的事情發生，

as the general public just kind of turns a blind eye to it.

如同一般大眾就是像視而不見。

TR: All those documents on screen were all real documents, word for word,

萊利：所有在銀幕上頭的文件 都是真實的文件，

字字句句完全都沒改過對吧？

unchanged at all, right?

WP: Absolutely. I've actually uploaded all of them to my website.

波特：半分不假！事實上我已經 全部上傳到了我的網站 －

It's willpotter.com/CMU and it's a footnoted version of the talk,

willpotter.com/CMU； 這場演講的是註解過版本，

so you can see the documents for yourself without the little snippets.

所以你可以自己來看 這些公文並非片段，

You can see the full version.

你可以看見完整的版本。

I relied overwhelmingly on primary source documents

我極度地仰賴首要來源文件

or on primary interviews with former and current prisoners,

或是與先前和現今囚犯、

with people that are dealing with this situation every day.

每天應付這些狀況之人的原始訪談，

And like I said, I've been there myself, as well.

而且就像我講過的 我也已經自己去過那邊了。

TR: You're doing courageous work.

波特：你正在做一件勇氣十足的工作！

WP: Thank you very much. Thank you all.

波特：太感謝你了！謝謝你們大家！

(Applause)

（掌聲）