Guantanamo Uighurs finally resettle in Palau

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Updated November 2, 2009 09:23:54

Six Muslim Uighurs from Guantanamo Bay have now finally been transferred to Palau for resettlement. New York-based lawyers for three of the former prisoners say the men - who had been cleared of all terrorism charges - can now begin rebuilding their lives in freedom.

They were amongst 22 Uighurs living at a self-contained camp in Afghanistan, when the US-led invasion of the country began in October 2001. Fearing persecution if they returned to China, the US has resettled 15 of the Uighurs in Albania, Bermuda and now Palau.

Speaker: Bernadette Carreon from Palau Horizon newspaper

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CARREON: They arrived by a military plane - a C-17 plane - and then right after that the President greeted them and then they went straight to the residence that was prepared by the government for them. We talked to some of their lawyers and they are resting right now. So from Guantanamo they went straight here, but the lawyers said they were happy to be here, they are happy that the Palauns accepted them, and they're happy that they're finally released from jail. [I] Talked to the President and he said in a few days they will be undergoing a physical check-up, and then they are going to be having training and then learning English - conversational English in school in our community college here.

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