Canadian detainees still risk being tortured in Afghanistan prisons

[G_j]

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/741957--afghan-detainees-still-risk-torture-amnesty-international

Richard J. BrennanOTTAWA BUREAU

OTTAWA – Canadian detainees still risk being tortured in Afghanistan prisons, a human rights lawyer says.

Paul Champ told a parliamentary committee Tuesday attempts by Canada to protect prisoners transferred to Afghan officials have failed.

"From my clients' perspective the problem has not been fixed," said Champ, who represents Amnesty International Canada and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association.

The parliamentary committee, probing the handling of Canadian detainees in Afghanistan, conducted a hearing despite the fact Conservative MPs again refused to show.

Also testifying was former senior Canadian diplomat Gar Pardy who said the recent Conservative attack on diplomat Richard Colvin, after testifying earlier before the committee, will throw "cold water" on other Canadian officials' freedom to speak openly.

The committee hearing will not count since Conservative members were not present.

The latest Tory no-show is just another wrinkle in the ongoing struggle by the committee to hear from witnesses and get official documents from the Conservative government.

Liberal MP Bob Rae told reporters earlier the opposition will not allow Prime Minister Stephen Harper to stymie the committee.


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[Spazito]

1. This tidbit in the article says it all, imo...

"While Conservative MPs were not there, a government video camcorder was rolling until a Conservative staffer was embarrassed into removing it."

The harper cabal is workin' so hard at emulating the bush cabal it is beyond belief. It can never be too soon to see their sorry asses out of power.

[polly7]

2. I agree. Harper is slowly dismantling this country as we know it bit by bit.

The sooner he's gone, the better. Useless. He's imo more dangerous than Bush. He has absolutely no fear and his arrogance gives him all the confidence in the the world to do whatever he likes. I was literally sick to my stomach the day he was elected in.

[Solly Mack]

3. K&R