The Harper government has blacked out large sections of relevant files handed over to the independent inquiry probing allegations of transfer to torture of detainees in Afghanistan, despite the fact that its investigators have the highest levels of national security clearance.
The heavily redacted documents, obtained by The Globe and Mail, underscore the sweeping nature of the government's efforts to keep the documentary record from the Military Police Complaints Commission, which is attempting to conduct an inquiry into allegations that Canada knowingly transferred prisoners to likely torturers in Afghanistan.
The MPCC's repeatedly thwarted effort to get to the heart of the detainee-transfer issue – it has faced attempts by the Harper government to gag witnesses, limit the scope of the investigation and withhold documents – prompted opposition politicians to open their own limited probe through a parliamentary committee, leading to last week's explosive testimony by diplomat Richard Colvin. But that committee's efforts have been similarly stymied, since it has no power to compel the government to deliver the documentary record and no real opportunity to cross-examine witnesses.
In the material delivered to the MPCC, government blackouts render unreadable many of the documents, some drafted by Mr. Colvin. The sweeping redactions were imposed even though everyone who works with or serves on the MPCC must have at least “secret” clearance and all of the senior investigators, as well as the panelists who would conduct the inquiry, have the highest security clearances.
"...someone is going to considerable lengths not to disclose what was known,” said Stuart Hendin, an expert in the law of war and international-rights issues who represented now-retired Brigadier-General Serge Labbé, one of the most senior Canadian officers embroiled in the Somalia affair 16 years ago.
Is this behavior consistent with people who have nothing to hide, NO culpability?
12 comments:
Don't be surprised if Harper comes down with the flu tomorrow.
I am still angry at the Liberals for even sending our troops to fight Bush's war in the first place, but I am willing to overlook that attrocity because it is critically important that we remove Harper from power.
Where there's smoke, there's fire.
Cover ups are admissions of guilt no doubt about it.
I am still angry at the Liberals for even sending our troops to fight Bush's war in the first place, but I am willing to overlook that attrocity because it is critically important that we remove Harper from power.
Ditto Marx and its time to end this madness. Bring the soldiers home now before we lose any more lives there. Time to remove Harper too. Put him and McCay in a uniform and let them fight this winless war.
"The heavily redacted documents, obtained by The Globe and Mail ...."
And I guess the Globe & Mail has "the highest level of national security clearance" too, right ?
Warcrimes??? the whole war is a CRIME in my mind ... and watch out Harper's Big "card" in the next voting time will be bringing the troops home as to please the electorate..
Shameless manover shameless political move .. This guy is a boil on the face of Canada.
"And I guess the Globe & Mail has "the highest level of national security clearance" too, right ?"
Repeat after me "Military Police Complaints Commission". You just make yourself look like a baffoon.
The documents were released to the Military Police Complaints Commission and then found their way to the Globe & Mail. Or are you trying to tell me that if the documents had not been redacted, they would never have seen the light of day outside of the Commission's investigators' hands? If so, I have some great oceanfront property in Manitoba you might be interested in.
Not sure what a "baffoon" is, unless it's someone who can't spell.
Just look in the mirror, if my typo confuses you.
What a lame retort btw.
"“Some of the key lessons of the ‘Somalia experience' wherein accusations whether well founded or not, were fuelled by a total lack of transparency, have not been learned,” MPCC chairman Peter Tinsley wrote in a judgment last month suspending the inquiry because of the government's failure to deliver documents."
You have two choices. You're either a partisan koolaid drinker, desperately trying to spin reality or you're dumb as dirt. Your choice.
Complain about the redacted comments all you want. They were redacted for reasons that relate to a lot more than partisan puffery. Or for the tin foil hat folk, the nefarious conspiracy to hide the facts from Canadian people.
My choice would be to move the committee into an in camera session, swear the members to complete confidentiality, like the US Congress does, and then show them the full unredacted versions. But, if the Harper government did that, the same partisan hacks and conspiracy theorists would be muttering about the Americanization of Parliament. So I don't think the government will get a fair shot by the media, opposition committee members, and pundits, regardless.
Tomm
Honestly, I find your comment stunning. It's not a partisan redaction, it's the government withholding information from MPCC. Can people read?
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