verbena-19

"Deal with Them Here", The Toronto Star, July 18, 2005

Deal with them here
To deport detainees to countries where they will be tortured makes us complicit in these heinous acts




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Are we ready for torture by proxy?


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July 17.

Canada has been a country at the forefront of human rights. The tragedies of 9/11, the London bombings and bombings elsewhere must not change that. Although we share intelligence with other nations, notably the U.S., we must not allow our country to follow the American example of "extraordinary renditions," which is what torture by proxy is, regardless of the words used to whitewash this deplorable practice.

Suspected "terrorists" in our prisons must be dealt with judiciously by our courts — openly, where defendants are allowed due process under our laws. They have the right to counsel, as anyone else charged with a crime. If there is no evidence for charges, they must be set free.

Those who are neither residents nor citizens, or who have entered Canada illegally, or violated their visas in any way could be dealt with by our immigration service after they are set free, and deported from whence they came.

Canadian politicians are outspoken about basic rights and the transparency of trials abroad, but yet they allow cases such as Hassan Almrei's to proceed behind closed doors.

To deport detainees to countries where they will be tortured, degraded or ill-treated makes us complicit in these heinous, barbaric acts. Maher Arar is a case in point. Blatant disregard for human rights ultimately erodes and rends the fabric of a democratic, civil, "just" society, while accomplishing nothing toward protecting its citizens from harm.

We must end secret trial security certificates and deal with suspects on our own soil in open, transparent judicial proceedings. We must not give in to U.S. pressure to do otherwise.


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Annamarie Bohus, Brampton


***This was my short response to yesterday's Star (Sunday, July 17, 2005) article, "Are We Ready for Torture by Proxy?", which was published in today's paper. I posted the full article previously, under its heading.

posted by Annamarie at 8:25 PM