The radical political arts collective UHC claim they are planning to build a fully operational life-size replica of Camp X-Ray somewhere in Manchester.
Artist Jai Redman says he intends to build and maintain the art installation for nine days from 10 October, complete with volunteer ‘unlawful combatants’ and ‘armed guards’.
The work will comprise one third of a new exhibition on the theme of ‘New Imperialism’, entitled ‘Don’t Cross The Line’, along with exhibits by the artists Helen Knowles and Maggie Lambert. The site of the art-installation-cum-concentration-camp has yet to be disclosed.
Humorous
Redman, a founder member of Manchester-based collective (the name stands for Ultimate Holding Company, apparently a reference to the unrealised power of the people) told City Life magazine: “I think it’s a very humorous piece, and I hope that peoples’ reaction to it will be one of bemusement, surprise and excitement.
"The reality is that there are Manchester citizens, British nationals, in jail in an internment camp awaiting military tribunal with no solicitor and no support.”
Mancunian Ronald Fiddler, from Moss Side, has been detained without charge or trial at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, for the last 19 months.
Redman said that UHC are still looking for volunteer guards and detainees, with full information available from UHC’s website (link below). Asked about the sheer scale of the project, he appeared unfazed. “The real one looks like it was put together by an art student,” he commented.
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I think that this art project is a brave and ingenious idea, the media do not allow us to know or remember what is happening in our world- outside our own front doorstops. When was the last time camp Xray was in the news? When was the last truthful update the general public received about the prisoners inside?
I believe that this project will allow people to remember and will inspire the public to fight back for their rights to knowledge and truthful reports of what is actually happening. How dare we be kept in the dark... this issue affects us all and we should not be encouraged to forget this camp. We need to fight for the rights of humanity as a whole.
Jai is voicing his opinions loud and clear, but please note that it isn't just his voice... We all want justice we all want peace and we all want the US military punished and imprisoned for its immoral and unjust imprisonment of innocent adults and children.