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?hub=TopStories

US, Israel on Canadian torture watch list: report
Thu Jan 17, 7:00 PM

OTTAWA (AFP) - The United States and Israel are on a Canadian Foreign Affairs Department watch list of countries where prisoners risk being tortured, CTV television reported Thursday.

The document cited the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as a place where prisoners could be tortured. Guantanamo holds Omar Khadr, a Canadian accused of killing a US soldier with a hand grenade in Afghanistan when he was 15 years old.

CTV said the document is used in a workshop to teach Canadian diplomats how to tell if a Canadian held in a foreign jail has been tortured, CTV reported.

The document lists a series of countries where the possibility of torture is high, including Syria, Iran, Afghanistan and China. But it also includes the United States and Israel.

It highlights US torture techniques including forced nudity, isolation and sleep deprivation, CTV said. (Beatings, electrocutions, etc. are not listed?)

Questioned by email by AFP on the reported document, Foreign Affairs Department spokesman Neil Hrab said "the training manual is not a policy document and does not reflect the views or policies of this government."

In an interview with CTV, Khadr's lawyer, Bill Kuebler, said he was surprised the Canadian government has done nothing to protect his client if there are suspicions he may have been mistreated in Guantanamo.

Kuebler said other western countries have successfully pressed for the release of their citizens held at Guantanamo.

Human rights groups and prominent Canadian citizens are calling for 21-year-old Khadr's repatriation so he can benefit from normal due process of law.

(A group of prominent British jurists also just condemned Stephen Harper's inaction.)

Training diplomats to make them more aware of torture began after Syrian-Canadian Maher Arar in 2002 was deported by the United States to Syria, where he was imprisoned for nearly a year and said he was tortured.

A Canadian inquiry cleared Arar of all suspicions of terrorism and the Canadian government issued an apology and awarded him a substantial compensation.

(But no real investigation was conducted to probe Canadian collusion with US crminal actions.)

 http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/080118/canada/canada_us_israel_torture_rights

Torture watchlist 'wrongly' names Canadian allies: Bernier
Last Updated: Saturday, January 19, 2008 | 12:38 PM ET
CBC News

Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier has issued a statement in an effort to pacify allies angry over a training manual for Canadian diplomats that lists the U.S. and Israel as countries where prisoners risk torture and abuse.

Bernier said the manual "contains a list that wrongly includes some of our closest allies."

(Wrongly how, exactly? Just because Harper has decided to ally himself with these criminals doesn't change the fact that they routinely engage in torture.)

"I regret the embarrassment caused by the public disclosure of the manual used in the department's torture awareness training," he said in a statement released Saturday.

"The manual is neither a policy document nor a statement of policy," he said. "As such, it does not convey the government's views or positions."

(Sure it does. These are manuals to be used by prospective diplomats.)

Bernier said he has directed the manual to be reviewed and rewritten, but he did not provide details.

The torture awareness training manual was inadvertently released on Friday to lawyers working on a lawsuit involving allegations that detainees were abused in Afghanistan.

The document singles out the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay as a site of possible abuse. It also names Israel, Afghanistan, China, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Syria as places where inmates could face torture.

U.S. ambassador to Canada David Wilkins told the Associated Press that it's "absurd" and "offensive" to place the United States on the same list along with countries like Iran and China.

(Why? They do less harm than the US?)

Michael Mendel, a spokesman for the Israeli embassy in Ottawa, said Israel's Supreme Court "is on record as expressly prohibiting any type of torture."

(So is the US. But both countries still practice torture.)

 http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/01/19/torture-manual.html

Foreign Affairs Minister Bernier meets with top Palestinian, Israeli officials
Published: Sunday, January 13, 2008 | 4:09 PM ET
Canadian Press: Yehonathan Tommer, THE CANADIAN PRESS

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Canadian aid and the Mideast peace process were front and centre Sunday as Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier met with President Mahmoud Abbas and other top Palestinian officials in Ramallah.

Bernier, who wrapped up a two-day trip to India on Saturday, also met later Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

In his talks with the Palestinians, Bernier said he emphasized that the Canadian pledge of $300 million for Palestinian nation building over the next five years is "not unconditional."

"We will need to see demonstrable progress in (peace) negotiations by both sides, as well as progress in Palestinian democratic reforms," Bernier said after meeting with the Palestinian Authority's foreign minister, Riad Malki.

Bernier said he also noted that part of the aid was earmarked for educational programs "to help combat hatred and incitement" against Israel.

Details of exactly how the aid will be used will be worked out later, but Abbas and Prime Minister Salim Fayyad have given assurances that Canada's concerns would be met, Bernier added.

Unlike President George W. Bush's high-profile visit that virtually shut down Ramallah last week, Bernier's presence went mostly unnoticed by ordinary Palestinians.

The only evidence was the billowing Canadian flags and several embassy vehicles unobtrusively parked outside the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, far from the downtown.

Malki said that the two men had a "good meeting" and "a frank, open and constructive dialogue" in their followup to the Bush-hosted conference in Annapolis, Md., in November that jump-started the long-dormant peace talks.

Israel and the Palestinians had pledged to try to reach a peace deal by the end of this year.

'While ambitious, I believe this is attainable," Bernier said of the deadline.

Malki said he discussed with Bernier "the obstacles to progress in the peace process, especially Israeli settlements," as well as ways of co-ordinating bilateral ties.

He also thanked Canada for its aid and stressed the "good, working relationship" with Ottawa.

However, Malki also alluded to differences as well, saying "issues between them would be raised in quiet diplomacy."

He did not elaborate.

There were no handshakes and no smiles and the two men showed no visible warmth, either during their news conference or as they left the room.

Only three questions were taken from reporters, all related to Israeli settlements activity.

During their private meeting, Malki had asked his Canadian counterpart to press the Israelis into fulfilling their commitment to the first stage of the road map peace process by imposing a total freeze on all Israeli settlement building activity in the West Bank .

The Palestinians, he said, draw no distinction between east Jerusalem, where they hope to establish the capital of a future Palestinian state, and the rest of the West Bank.

Bernier was noncommittal, saying only that "new Israeli settlement activity was contrary to the peace process."

In his meeting with Olmert, Bernier "reiterated Canada's strong support for Israel and for Israel's right to assure its own security," a Foreign Affairs official said on condition of anonymity.

The two also spoke about regional security matters, such as Iran, and Bernier expressed Canada's concerns regarding worrying statements made by Iran's president on Israel and the Holocaust, the official said.

On Monday, Bernier meets with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defence Minister Ehud Barak, as well as with Lt.-Gen. Keith Dayton, the U.S. security co-ordinator.

He later visits Jerusalem's Yad Vashem, Holocaust Memorial and Heroes' Remembrance Authority.

-With files from The Associated Press

Bernier meets with Israeli, Palestinian leaders; discusses regional issues
Last Updated: Sunday, January 13, 2008 | 9:43 PM ET
CBC News
Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier met Sunday with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to discuss regional issues of mutual concern as part of his first tour of the Middle East.

At his meeting with Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad Malki in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Bernier said he emphasized that Canada's $300 million commitment over five years for Palestinian nation building is "not unconditional."

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki, right, speaks Sunday at a news conference with Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
(Muhammed Muheisen/Associated Press) "We will need to see demonstrable progress in [peace] negotiations by both sides, as well as progress in Palestinian democratic reforms," Bernier said, after his meeting with Malki.

Israelis and Palestinians have pledged to try to reach a peace deal by the end of this year, which Bernier believes is an "ambitious," but "attainable" deadline.

Bernier said he also stressed that the aid was earmarked partly for educational programs "to help combat hatred and incitement" against Israel.

Details of how the money will be used will be ironed out later, but Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad have given assurances that Canada's concerns will be met, Bernier added.

Malki said that the two men had a "good meeting" and "a frank, open and constructive dialogue" in their follow-up to the U.S.-hosted conference in Annapolis, Md., in November that jump-started the long-dormant peace talks.

During their private meeting, Malki had asked Bernier to press the Israelis into fulfilling their commitment to the first stage of the road map peace process by imposing a total freeze on all Israeli settlement building activity in the West Bank.

The Palestinians, he said, draw no distinction between east Jerusalem, where they hope to establish the capital of a future Palestinian state, and the rest of the West Bank.

Bernier was noncommittal, saying only that "new Israeli settlement activity was contrary to the peace process."

Canada can have constructive role: Fayyad

Bernier also met with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, who told CBC News that Canada can play a constructive role in the region.

But when pressed for specifics, he'd only say that "Canada enjoys very good international standing and in this way it can make a contribution which others may not be able to make."

Bernier also met later Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. A Foreign Affairs official who spoke on condition of anonymity said Bernier reiterated at the meeting "Canada's strong support for Israel and for Israel's right to assure its own security."

The two politicians also spoke about regional security matters, such as Iran, and Bernier expressed Canada's concerns regarding worrying statements made by Iran's president on Israel and the Holocaust, the official said.

On Monday, Bernier will meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defence Minister Ehud Barak as well as Lt.-Gen Keith Dayton, U.S. security co-ordinator.

He will also visit Jerusalem's Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority.

With files from the Canadian Press