Canada puts U.S. on torture watch list: CTV
Updated Wed. Jan. 16 2008 11:02 PM ET
CTV.ca News
Omar Khadr's lawyers say they can't understand why Canada is not doing more to help
their client in light of new evidence that Ottawa has put the U.S. prison at Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba, on a watch list for torture.
Khadr -- a Canadian citizen who was just 15-years-old when he was captured in Afghanistan
more than five years ago and taken to Guantanamo -- has claimed that he has been tortured
at the prison. Now, CTV News has obtained documents that put Guantanamo Bay on a torture
watch list.
Khadr's U.S. military lawyer says the new documents contradict Harper's assurances
that his client is receiving fair treatment.
"Omar has certainly been abused, his rights have been violated under international
law, and apparently the Canadian government has reason to believe that's true, and
yet, they've acted not at all to assist him," William Kuebler told CTV News.
Khadr's lawyers say suspicions of torture undermine claims that he can get a fair
trial from the military commission in Guantanamo Bay. They want him sent back to Canada
to face justice here. But the government has said he's charged with serious crimes
and they are waiting for the U.S. judicial process to play itself out.
Canada's new focus on torture was ordered by the inquiry into Maher Arar's nightmare
in Syria. U.S. authorities sent Arar -- a Canadian of Syrian ancestory -- to Syria
after he made a brief stopover in New York in 2002. They wrongly accused him of having
links to terrorism in large part because of information provided by the RCMP.
Arar was sent to a Syrian prison where he was tortured for nearly a year. An inquiry
into the Arar affair ordered a new focus on torture, and CTV News has learned that,
as part of a "torture awareness workshop," diplomats are now being told where to watch
for abuse.
The aim of the workshop: to teach diplomats who visit Canadians in foreign jails how
to tell if they've been tortured. It also listed countries and places with greater
risks of torture. The list includes Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, and China. But
surprisingly, it also included the United States, Guantanamo Bay, and Israel.
It notes specific "U.S. interrogation techniquies," which include "forced nudity,
isolation, and sleep deprivation." The U.S. has repeatedly denied allegations by international
groups that it tortures prisoners captured in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. However,
U.S. officials have refused to comment on the Canadian list.
But international observers say they are heartened by the specificity of the Canadian
list. Alex Neve of Amnesty International says he is surprised that Canada would risk
offending allies by naming countries that potentially torture prisoners.
"These are countries where, sadly, the record is clear -- torture and ill treatment
happens," said Neve.
But it appears that Ottawa may have had second thoughts about being so explicit. After
the documents were released as evidence in a court case relating to Afghan detainees,
the government tried to get them back. Sources say that Ottawa apparently wanted to
black out sensitive parts that may anger allies.
Khadr -- who was born in Toronto -- was captured in 2002 after a battle with U.S.
forces in which an American soldier died. He's accused of war crimes, but critics
have alleged the U.S. military court that is trying him violates U.S. and international
law. Khadr is the only Western citizen remaining at Guantanamo Bay.
A war crimes trial has never been held against anyone under the age of 18. International
observers have questioned Ottawa's decision not to help Khadr, who many believe is
no different than child soldiers victimized in Africa.
With a report from CTV's Roger Smith in Ottawa
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080116/khadr_torture_080116/20080116
Something special in honor of MLK http://www.truthseekerscast.com The network is moving soon! Come see the new digs! http://truthseekerscast.ning.com/Private Reply to Danielle (Dani) Cutler |