CONSERVATIVES CAUGHT IN A COVER-UP
Canadians have differing opinions about the war in Afghanistan, but on two key points public opinion is united and clear.
First, an overwhelming majority of Canadians are tremendously proud of the skill, professionalism and bravery of our military and diplomatic personnel serving in Afghanistan. They are, simply, the best in the world.
Secondly, Canadians don’t like being lied to, and there is growing concern that the Harper Conservatives have not been telling the whole truth about a number of things, including what they knew – and when they knew it – about the treatment of Afghan “detainees” in Afghan prisons.
It is against both Canadian and international law to knowingly send those captured during military conflicts into circumstances where they are likely to be tortured.
To be clear, there is no suggestion that any Canadian has engaged in torture, but the same cannot be said of the Afghans. Torture and other human rights violations are systemic in Afghanistan.
The Conservatives acknowledge this point. But for four years, they have claimed there is not a single case where a “detainee”, originally captured by Canadians, has subsequently been abused after being turned over to Afghan authorities.
Starting in 2006, diplomat Richard Colvin sent extensive warnings from Afghanistan to a long list of Conservative government officials (including Ministers), telling them they were wrong to assert that detainees turned over by Canada were somehow miraculously immune from harsh treatment.
Last week, in a courageous and honourable move, Canada’s new top soldier, General Walter Natynczyk, released evidence corroborating Mr. Colvin, and totally demolishing the Harper government’s vacuous argument about having no “credible evidence” or “proven allegation” pertaining to torture.
While our soldiers and diplomats have been doing their difficult jobs very well, they’ve been betrayed and dishonoured by the willful blindness of their Conservative political masters in Ottawa.
-30-
|
