HillTimesOnline: New Afghan docs show feds prepared in 2007 to duck questions

[tuvor]

New Afghan detainee documents reveal the government was prepared in late 2007 to duck questions about suspending detainee transfers because of torture in Afghan prisons and avoid confirming the fact that the transfers had already been secretly halted.

The documents, released at a Military Police Complaints Commission inquiry last week, also demonstrate concern within the Canadian government about torture soon after it had reached a new agreement with the Afghanistan government that was supposed to give Canada greater access to prisons to ensure abuse and torture were not taking place.

The documents, tabled as the Military Police Complaints Commission began its final hearings into how military police handled prisoner transfers and reacted to reports of torture, reveal as well that the Canadian military initially believed the solution would be a series of escalating diplomatic measures rather than a suspension of prisoner transfers even if Canadian officials uncovered abuse of prisoners while inspecting Afghan jails.

And, with the issue of detainee transfers and tortures looming as one of the major issues confronting Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) and his government after Parliament resumes Sept. 20, a lawyer who has been at the centre of the detainee controversy for four years says he does not believe a review of secret documents underway by government and opposition MPs has sufficient authority to get to the bottom of the allegations.

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http://www.thehilltimes.ca/page/view/afghan-09-13-2010