Canadian diplomat levels war crimes allegations
November 18 to 20, 2009 – Former Canadian diplomat Richard Colvin testified that Canadian Forces knowingly turned over detainees to Afghan authorities for torture.
In April 2007, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said publicly that Canadian military officials don’t send individuals off to be tortured. That was indeed our policy. But behind the military’s wall of secrecy, that unfortunately is exactly what we were doing.
As I learned more about our detainee practices, I came to the conclusion that they were contrary to Canada’s values, contrary to Canada’s interests, contrary to Canada’s official policies, and also contrary to international law. That is, they were un-Canadian, counter-productive, and probably illegal.
- Richard Colvin
Related videos:
- Video: Government under attack over Afghan detainee abuse allegations (March-May 2007)
As important as it is for the government to obtain information promptly and act on it, it is equally important to those who make allegations to obtain accurate, non refutable and credible facts.
dividedwestandCanada
December 18, 2009 at 12:35 pm
totally agree with you phoboskitty..this is the dirty washing hanging on the line..its obvious Richard Colvin is sincere and a stand up guy..just look what he’s going thru at the hands of these disgusting dishonest politicians who are always in bed with each other a blind eye to Afghanistan while we rape their country alongside the Americans…I gotta get outa here..its just too shameful..
homout
December 16, 2009 at 12:23 pm
this is what happens when we kowtow to the Americans
phoboskitty
December 14, 2009 at 12:24 pm