The stories from Ottawa and the Afghan Prisoner hearings, to me are another waste of Government spending. The $ $ $ wasted on yet another committee would be far better spent on our Troops their families and for the bereavement packages awarded to a wife, husband, mother or father. As well as our walking wounded whether physical injuries or injuries to the mind. We should be far more aware and constructive towards our own.
I read letters and blogs in many forms of the media and the net. People write in that the prisoners ( people that kill our soldiers, afghan nationals and children in the most cowardly of ways should be mollycoddled). Well in this Bloggers opinion the rules are quite clear all prisoners are to be turned over to the Afghan authorities then our duty is done. As far as I am aware NATO's mandate is to provide training, provincial reconstruction and unfortunately combat. All of the tasks are dangerous to the NATO troops. We are supposed to train army, police and correctional staff to our standards they run their country not us. Therefore the welfare of enemy combatants leaves our juristriction at the handover.
Afghan trooper on guard at local prison.
Former Afghan MP Malalai Joya told reporters in Ottawa on Thursday that Richard Colvin's testimony about the torture of Afghan detainees is accurate. (Rodrigo Abd/Associated Press)
Canadian diplomat Richard Colvin's claim that detainees transferred by Canadians to Afghan prisons were likely tortured is true and an open secret in her country, a former Afghan MP said in Ottawa on Thursday.
Colvin, who was posted in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2007, gave explosive testimony last week before a Commons' committee, alleging that all prisoners handed over by Canadian soldiers to Afghan authorities were likely subsequently abused and that government officials were well aware of the problem.
He also said many who had been arrested were innocent people.( Isn't everyone innocent in jail
Malalai Joya, a human rights activist who was suspended from the Afghan parliament in 2007 for openly criticizing officials, told reporters on Thursday that Colvin is correct in his assessment.
What he has been saying is what I've heard from my people, she said.
Many of the victims are women and children detainees who have been raped, she said. It's not new for our people. ( Sad but true )
Canada's former chief of defence staff, Rick Hillier, slammed Colvin's testimony on Wednesday, calling it ludicrous.
We detained, under violent actions, people trying to kill our sons and daughters, who had in some cases done that, been successful at it, and were continuing to do it, Hillier said.
Hillier said they may have detained the occasional farmer, but that they were almost inevitably immediately let go.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay also questioned the credibility of the allegations earlier this week. Hillier and Conservative officials denied Colvin's assertion that he reported prisoner abuses as early as 2006.
Joya said diplomats are often in denial after issues of abuse or corruption are brought to light.
He exposed, she said of Colvin. And I hope [more is exposed].
Joya, who has been touring Canada to speak about Afghanistan and to promote her book, A Woman Among Warlords, said the international military occupation in her country has made conditions worse.
She said her people are squashed by forces that include tribal warlords, Taliban insurgents, foreign military and a Karzai government she compared with a mafia organization.
Democracy will never come by war we need an invasion of schools, economy, hospitals, and streets. We need these kind of helping hands.
Joya also offered condolences to the parents of Canadian soldiers killed while serving in Afghanistan.
Both sides of the story, I much prefer General Hilliers tedtimony and Defence Minister MacKays comments than a career external affairs flack.
Remember Everyone Deployed
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
