Detainee Torture Remains a Reality, Reports Show
Document tells of Canadian official finding instruments of torture beneath a chair in interrogation room of an Afghan police prison
Compelling evidence that Canadian-transferred detainees are still being tortured in Afghan prisons emerged yesterday from the government’s own follow-up inspection reports, documents it has long tried to keep secret.
In one harrowing account, an Afghan turned over by Canadian soldiers told of being beaten unconscious and tortured in the secret police prison in Kandahar. He showed Canadian diplomats fresh welts and then backed up his story by revealing where the electrical cable and the rubber hose that had been used on him were hidden.
“Under the chair we found a large piece of braided electrical cable as well as a rubber hose,” reads the subsequent diplomatic cable marked “secret” and distributed to some of the most senior officials in the Canadian government and officers in the Canadian military.
The Globe and Mail has established that the report of the case is recent, written after a Nov. 5, 2007, inspection of the National Directorate of Security prison in Kandahar. That was six months after a supposedly improved transfer agreement was put in place to monitor detainee treatment. The agreement was designed to address problems raised by critics about the ill treatment of prisoners taken by Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan and handed over to Afghan authorities with insufficient follow-up.
The documents were made available yesterday by the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, which, along with Amnesty International Canada, is seeking a Federal Court injunction to stop further prisoner transfers. Both rights groups have filed a Federal Court action contending that international law and Canada’s own Constitution bar the government from transferring prisoners to those likely to torture or abuse them.
“The denial of torture is no longer a plausible position” for the Harper government to take, Jason Gratl, president of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, said yesterday. (Previous allegations of abuse and torture by transferred detainees have been dismissed by senior ministers as Taliban propaganda.) “It’s impossible to turn a blind eye to the discovery of the instruments of torture in the very interrogation room where the interview was being conducted.” Mr. Gratl said yesterday in a telephone interview from Vancouver.
In Ottawa, under cross-examination before the parties are to appear in court Thursday, Nicholas Gosselin, Canada’s human-rights officer stationed in Kandahar, confirmed that he was the diplomat who picked up, examined and then carefully returned the cable and hose to beneath the chair in the secret police prison interrogation room.
It is impossible to know whether the latest documents - delivered to the court, Amnesty International Canada and the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association only days before the parties are due in court - actually include the full range of the government’s knowledge about ill treatment and abuse of transferred detainees. Even if they do, most of it is blacked out, including dates and other key information.
The following excerpt is typical. In other instances, entire pages are blacked out.
“Of the XXX detainees interviewed, XXX said XXX had been whipped with cables, shocked with electricity and/or otherwise ‘hurt’ while in NDS custody in Kandahar. This period of alleged abuse lasted from between XXX days and XXX days and was carried out in XXX and XXX and detainees still had XXX on XXX body; XXX traumatized.” Some of the allegations describe abuse and torture as occurring in Kandahar, others in Kabul. In some, the secret police accuse the regular police of the beatings. One transferred detainee, apparently confused, incoherent and seemingly suffering from mental problems, had no toenails. Others reported beatings and ill treatment. Many said they had never seen a lawyer. Some apparently had never been visited by international monitoring groups.
Canadian soldiers are being ordered by the government to turn over prisoners that the government knows face torture, Mr. Gratl said. The government has tried to deflect criticism of its detainee-transfer program in the past by suggesting that while there is torture in some Afghan prisons, there was no proof that it applied to detainees handed over by Canadian soldiers. However, the new documents provide specific evidence of torture and abuse of specific detainees known to have been handed over by Canadians and subsequently interviewed by Canadians.No agreements or assurances or inspections “will remove the risk in the foreseeable future” that Canadian soldiers are turning over prisoners that the government knows will be tortured, Mr. Gratl said.
Another document, with the date blacked out, underscored the shoddy record-keeping, the inability to keep track of transferred detainees, and the difficulty in asking the secret police to investigate allegations that they had been torturing prisoners.
In numerous instances, detainees who described torture or abuse asked Canadian interviewers conducting the follow-up inspections not to divulge their names, apparently fearing retribution. It remains unclear how the subsequent investigations reportedly launched by Afghan authorities, all but one of which apparently have concluded that allegations of abuse or torture are unfounded, can have proceeded without knowing the identity of the victim.
Yet in an affidavit, sworn last Dec. 14 and confirmed in cross-examination on Jan. 4, Kerry Buck, director-general of the Afghanistan Task Force of the Department of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that after conducting investigations into all of alleged instances of torture and abuse, all of them save one were found to be groundless, and one was still under investigation.
Mr. Gratl said the Harper government’s continued refusal to cease transfers was besmirching the reputation of Canadian soldiers, who in some instances have refused to turn over detainees in the field fearing Afghan security forces would kill them. The conclusions of all of the investigations had been delivered at the same time, orally, and with no details to the Canadian ambassador in Kabul, Ms. Buck testified. “The reputation of the Canadian Forces is a reputation of a compassionate, careful and respectful organization that complies with international standards,” including the Geneva Conventions that govern the humane treatment of prisoners and specifically prohibit transfers to torture, Mr. Gratl said. Continuing the transfers tars Canadian soldiers “with a reputation of callous indifference,” he said.
© 2008 Globe and Mail
I hope this wakes up Canada…
good people all over the world need to unite to end this evil religious war and the next War too.
There is still hope as long as the whistle blowers keep up the good fight.
So, Canada has dirty hands here, eh? Looks like Harper the Hallowed has a little something to hide! Shame on him! A clear-cut disgrace to Canada!
I am an American lawyer familar with the internal workings of the US criminal justice system, a Michigan resident and not an infrequent vacationer across the bridge to Canada. Canadians rightly should be concerned about their affiliations with US military and intelligence agencies, given the Bush administration’s open embrace of torture, rendition and indefinite detention as tools in the global war on terror.
Electric cables? Rubber hoses? If not for use in crossing the occasionally ambiguous line between interrogation and torture, then why is such stuff stowed away in the station house to begin with?
The mainstream US media employs euphemistic weasle words like “harsh interrogation methods” or “torture lite” in their sporadic, invariably superficial discussion of this serious human rights issue. Of course it’s torture. And of course it’s official policy.
Somebody in a position of power actually requisitioned all those sets of womens’ panties for distribution as hood replacements inside Abu Ghraib prison and Gitmo. For what purpose was this done, other than to subject male Muslim inmates to degrading treatment, along with stacking them up naked in shit stained homoerotic tableau piles, or bringing in the dogs?
Domestic law enforcement in the United States has a long history of dark, barbaric practices in the back rooms of its police stations and in the bowels of its prisons. Sometimes the goal is to extract confessions or information to accuse others. More commonly, bad cops go on the muscle simply because they can.
Torture and physical abuse vividly deliver the message of who’s in charge here, and that those in charge are omnipotent. And it certainly does speed up closing out the case files, no matter what the true facts truly might be.
Use of third degree tactics usually starts locally with a few bad apples and metastasizes outward. The wrong types of people gravitate into positions where they can get in on the action, simultaneously compromising the good cops through their own head turning, passive complicity.
It always starts out justified by a ticking time bomb, evolves into standard operating procedure with a wink and a nod, and ends up pushed to tragic excess because good old Charlie just had an unusually tough day.
By all means, Canadians should disassociate themselves from the United States current international military and paramilitary prison network, until the rule of law can be restored within that system.
9/11 has been seized upon to destroy over night through fear mongering fundamental constraints upon the misuse of police powers that took decades, if not centuries, to achieve. The last seven years have been a shameful time for America.
By casting the issue as a false choice between security or civil liberties in a time of war, the real political choice - between torture, or law enforcement professionalism - never gets framed at all.
Bill from Saginaw
Right, we have enough documentation of the problem. Thanks to Common Dreams for hosting the archive.
What we need now is the grass roots action - shift your individual exchange/association away from the power centers, and let them know how much you miss interacting with them.
Tell ‘em your condition for considering the possibility of interacting with them again in the future is the following:
You want all the prisons wide open at all times. That is, the prison expense budget will assume the cost of housing and protecting the press corps that will monitor via audio/video the condition of all prisoners at all times and report it to the world. Expensive? Sure. Other options? None.
It’s up to you, people. Your current exchange/association with the power centers is the fuel for the fire. You can stop it any time you wish.
This is all officially sanctioned. This is not a secret. This is who our ‘leaders’ really are, psychotic and sadistic. Torture and terrorism is their calling card, and it will continue unless they are stopped.
“PRISONER ABUSE: PATTERNS FROM THE PAST
National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 122
Cold War U.S. Interrogation Manuals Counseled ‘Coercive Techniques’
Cheney Informed of ‘Objectionable’ Interrogation Guides in 1992
‘Inconsistent with U.S. Government Policy’
National Security Archive Posts CIA Training Manuals from 60s, 80s, and Investigative memos on earlier controversy on human rights abuses
For Further Information:
Thomas Blanton 202 994-7000
Peter Kornbluh 202 994-7116
Washington D.C. May 12, 2004: CIA interrogation manuals written in the 1960s and 1980s described ‘coercive techniques’ such as those used to mistreat detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, according to the declassified documents posted today by the National Security Archive. The Archive also posted a secret 1992 report written for then Secretary of Defense Richard Cheney warning that U.S. Army intelligence manuals that incorporated the earlier work of the CIA for training Latin American military officers in interrogation and counterintelligence techniques contained ‘offensive and objectionable material’ that ‘undermines U.S. credibility, and could result in significant embarrassment.’ ”
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB122/index.htm
Harper is indeed a disgrace to Canada,but Canadians themselves are the greater disgrace. Much of the West suffers from the same mental illness as the US. Quebec is progressive but nationalism (provincialism)prevents it from joining other progressive forces that are not Quebecois (NDP). If Quebec led the way, the NDP would be the government, but Quebecers only vote for Quebecers and the NDP doesn’t have one, they have one born in Quebec but not a Quebecer. Quebec, Ontario, the Maritimes and New England would make a great country. British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California is another good combination. Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba can join Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota. The rest of the US would fit well together and they can then make their laws fit the bible and be happy together with those Muslims who want their laws to conform to their bible, the Koran. Happiness all around. If someone breaks the happiness, which one do you think it would be?
Choose one
Northeast nation Quebec,Ontario,Maritimes,New England
Central North: Montana,North Dakota,Minnesota,Manitoba, Saskat..
Pacific: California, Oregon, Wshington, British Columbia
Central: Rest of USA
I think Michigan and Wisconsin belong in Central North, along with a chunk of Chicago-northern Illinois extending south to about DeKalb.
Bill from Saginaw
RE: - So, Canada has dirty hands here, eh? Looks like Harper the Hallowed has a little something to hide! Shame on him! A clear-cut disgrace to Canada!
Hey, if the Opposition parties were not asking questions and looking into it, then none of us would even know that it is going on - it would be between Bush and his mistress Stephen Harper. First the NDP brings it up, then the Bloc a bit and by the time the Liberals have gotten involved, you know that the shit is about to hit the fan.
It must be bad when even Iggy figures there is a problem!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Mr. Michael Ignatieff (Etobicoke—Lakeshore, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, why will the Minister of National Defence not answer the questions here?
We learned this summer that in addition to allegations of torture, there are also accusations of disappearances. Fifty Afghans transferred by the Canadian Forces to the Afghan authorities have gone missing.
Can the Prime Minister tell us how many of these detainees have disappeared since May when the new agreement was signed? What will the Government of Canada do to restore Canada’s reputation as a defender of human rights?
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Mr. Gilles Duceppe (Laurier—Sainte-Marie, BQ): Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said that allegations of torture in Afghan prisons were nothing but Taliban propaganda. However, according to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, one third of prisoners are still being tortured. Even Foreign Affairs Canada’s departmental spokesperson admitted that she had heard the allegations of torture. I do not suppose that she is a member of the Taliban.
Given that Canadian representatives have visited Afghan prisons 11 times, will the Prime Minister release a report on these visits so we can all know what happened?
Right Hon. Stephen Harper (Prime Minister, CPC): Mr. Speaker, it is the nature of the Taliban to make such allegations. We should not assume that all of these allegations are based in fact.
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/housechamberbusiness/chambersittings.aspx?Key=2007&View=H&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=2
The difference between Canada and the US, is that in Canada these things will make a difference. Harper will not get his majority , may even lose, and the conservatives will be in turmoil again. His days are numbered, he is a minority caretaker prime minister, nothing more.
I recommend the movie “Rendition” to all who haven’t yet seen it. It should be out on DVD now or soon.
http://www.nationalpost.com/rss/story.html?id=258674
http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCAN2248709020080123
I just read that Canada has just halted transfer of prisoners to afghan authorities… Is this real? Harper spinning it?
I’ll add an amen to cmrced’s recommendation of “Rendition”.
This is a strtuggle between the government and the bureaucracy. The bureaucracy is in a good position to defy Harper. Also, in Canada, the law is not as easily ignored. Canada is a Liberal Party country. Every so often the liberals do something naughty and are sent to the corner to think it over. Canada is at that stage right now, so a conservative minority government was installed. Harper is prime minister not because he turned canadians on, but to punish the liberals, and fill the seat. It hurts us as much as it hurts them, but it needs to be done. He is not expected to do anything. His mandate is to mind the store and play toy soldier while the real leader is found. Looks like Dion is not it, hence the delay in removing Harper.
Canadians aimed for, and got a conservative minority government. They specifically did not want to give them a majority. The country voted strategically and got what it wanted. In Canada there isn’t a feeling of powerlessness. The parties are not the same, and there are 3. There is no right wing, and little God talk. God talk is not fashionable in various parts of Canada, especially Quebec. Quebec decides what will happen. Quebec does not like Bush or American foreign policy. Quebec is pacifist. Canada will stay Liberal.
Everybody seems to think that the torture performed to Afgan prisoners will affect the Canadian Parlimant but like all things it will keep happening like all injustaces in this world, just like poverty, abuse, murder and rape, the torture of prisoners or war will happen.
Its sickening to state facts.
Also To the canadian government tortureing Afgans is no more difficult then clubbing bady seals for their fur ( still practised and funded by goverments
http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/marine_mammals_news/canadas_20032004_seal_hunt_huge_death_count_massive_resistance.html )
Canadians think your concern with baby seals is silly. Canada does not feel bad about killing baby seals. No capital punishment though. In the US they think it is a crime to kill a baby seal but not a person.
Seals are just cute, and so totally WHITE
lizard, as Danny Williams told Paul McCartney and his wife on CNN, it is against the law to kill baby seals. Inuit and certain Native tribes still hunt seals for food and clothing and they use guns rather than clubs. Then again, Danny Williams said that a Premiers meeting with Harper would be as “productive” as “a weekend at Bernie’s.”
This whole thing goes way back. First the Opposition criticized the government of turning their prisoners over to the Americans and now they are criticizing them for turning them over to the Afghanis. And now, since they have just learned that Canada has stopped turning prisoners over to the Afghan authorities in November 2007, the Opposition wants to know what Canada is doing with the prisoners that they have captured since November 2007 and Harper doesn’t want to tell them.
I wonder why this whole thing is taking place in BC rather than in Ontario or Ottawa!
Only providing snippets (both links also have video):
Canada ended handover of Afghan detainees months ago
Policy change prompted by ‘credible allegation’ of abuse
Amid claims of torture, the federal government has quietly disclosed that Canadian troops stopped handing over detainees to Afghan authorities months ago.
“Canadian authorities were informed on Nov. 5, 2007, by Canada’s monitoring team, of a credible allegation of mistreatment pertaining to one Canadian-transferred detainee held in an Afghan detention facility,” a Justice Department lawyer, J. Sanderson Graham, said in a letter responding to questions posed by human rights groups in a Federal Court hearing.
“As a consequence there have been no transfers of detainees to Afghan authorities since that date.” …
According to a previously secret report made public this week, one detainee interviewed by Canadian diplomats while in Afghan custody showed them fresh welts on his body and led them to a hidden electrical cable and rubber hose he said were used to strike him. …
The government said the matter is moot because transfers have ceased, but rights groups said it is still important because the government refuses to give notice before any possible resumption, Champ told CBCNews.ca.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/01/23/afghan-transfers.html
Acting commander halted transfers, court hears
Canadian troops halted the transfer of detainees to Afghan authorities in early November, one day after finding evidence of torture in an Afghan prison, a federal court has heard. …
Before the transfers were halted, the Conservative government mocked opposition members for suggesting torture was taking place in Afghan prisons.
News that transfers had been stopped only emerged this week when the groups released a letter sent by the Department of Justice to lawyers for the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, saying that soldiers had temporarily halted the transfers.
Paul Champ, the lawyer representing the two human rights groups, learned little more than when and why military brass made the decision, during Thursday’s hearing. The Canadian Press reports that defence lawyers claimed National Defence Act protections when Champ asked why the policy change was kept quiet, and where the detainees are currently being held.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080123/afghan_080124/20080124?hub=TopStories
Big Money’s link to Notional Pest:
QUOTE:“Amnesty International is calling for a moratorium on prisoner transfers. According to its information, prisoners are still being subjected to torture and abuse,” Bloc Quebecois MP Claude Bachand said on Nov. 13 during Question Period. “Will the prime minister today, from his seat, order an end to the transfer or prisoners to the Afghan authorities?”
Prime Minister Stephen Harper remained seated. Bernier answered for the government, but made no mention that the transfers had been suspended, nor did he mention the incident eight days earlier.
I wonder when Bernier was told. Seems that we have found out why Harper refused to take that question. There are allegations that Harper doesn’t tell his Ministers everything. Actually, Bachand did not say that exactly, but the person translating his words into English as he spoke probably did.
Seems that the latest troop from Quebec was in Afghanistan a bit before November. If you wish to see a transcript of the exact exchange between Bachand and Bernier, scroll down to the calendar at the bottom, click on the date and use your edit/find function to find Bachand.
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/housechamberbusiness/chambersittings.aspx?Key=2007&View=H&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=2
RE - Movie Rendition
I will watch it probably just to be able to tell you guys how the story differs in significant ways from Maher Arar’s. And I hate to agree with Moonraven on anything, but the use of a white actress for the wife is probably due to the belief that American audiences have more sympathy for the tears of a white woman than a woman with Middle Eastern (or, more likely Hispanic) features. If it was not for Monia, Maher Arar would still be in prison - Alexa McDonough said that and I believe her!
Liberals should be punished and Jack Layton should be the next Prime Minister!
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/01/24/afghan-detainees.html
Cool.