Guantanamo Prisoner To Boycott His Trial

April 12, 2008 12:48 a.m. EST

Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba (AHN) - A Sudanese prisoner has refused legal representation and plans to boycott his upcoming trial, according to reports

The prisoner is the third Guantanamo Bay detainee to announce boycott plans.

The Los Angeles Times reported that 47-year-old Ibrahim al-Qosi announced a boycott of his upcoming military commission trial during arraignment proceedings on Thursday, saying he does not believe in "the justice or the lawfulness" of the U.S. war crimes tribunal.

"I leave in your hands the camel and its load for you to do whatever you wish," The Times quoted al-Qosi's saying to Air Force Lt. Col. Nancy Paul, the judge handling the trial.

Al-Qosi was detained four years ago on charges of conspiracy and material support for terrorism. The trial may continue without al-Qosi's presence, with Judge Paul entering a plea of not guilty on his behalf.

The report said that unlike federal courts, the Guantanamo war tribunal permits hearsay evidence as well as confessions gleaned from coercion.

The detainee said that he would act as his own attorney and proceeded to read a statement about the Sept. 11 attacks.

"After the collapse of the towers, after the collapse of the Pentagon, all these false masks fell away and your wrongs were exposed," al-Qosi told the court, according to the Times. He added: "The whole world has a headache from your hypocrisy."

Earlier in the week, Saudi prisoner Ahmed Muhammed Ahmed Haza Darbi called the tribunal a "sham" and announced that he would boycott subsequent sessions. On March 12, Afghan defendant Mohammed Jawad also rejected the forum.

Chief prosecutor Army Col. Lawrence Morris expressed concerned about the boycotts but said the government remained committed to a just process.