Canadians Can Sue Foreign Officials for Torture, Say Lawyers

[Hissyspit]

Source: Epoch Times

Canadians Can Sue Foreign Officials for Torture, Say Lawyers

Ontario civil case challenges interpretation of current immunity laws
By Matthew Simon
Epoch Times StaffCreated: Mar 29, 2010

The Ontario Superior Court heard arguments Monday to allow a Canadian civil case to proceed against Chinese officials for redress against torture. “This has never been decided by a Canadian court before,” said lawyer Kate Kempton during the hearing.

Back in 2004, six Falun Gong practitioners—a Canadian citizen and five Ontario residents—filed a $20-million lawsuit against former Chinese President Jiang Zemin and four other high-ranking Chinese Community Party (CCP) officials for torture. The Chinese regime has not acknowledged the lawsuit, but a group called the All China Lawyers Association (ACLA) has intervened on the defendants’ side, claiming that the officials hold immunity.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs are arguing that torture “cannot act in the public capacity,” and therefore state officials who torture are not entitled to the immunity provided in Canada’s State Immunity Act.

Read more: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/32361/

[sakabatou]

1. So... will they be able to go after the Bush Admin people?

[dipsydoodle]

2. And Blair

.

[Soylent Brice]

3. K&R

[midnight]

4. K&R

[mercuryblues]

5. How

How could this impact this case in Canada? My hope rise with news like this, only to get them dashed by inaction or court rulings.

http://ccrjustice.org/arar

Arar v. Ashcroft et al
Synopsis
Arar v. Ashcroft is a federal lawsuit challenging the rendition of a Canadian citizen to Syria, by the U.S. government, where he was tortured, forced to falsely confess, and released after one year without ever being charged.

[polly7]

8. I wondered that too. What he went through is horrible. nt.

[Wednesdays]

6. So say CANADIAN lawyers

Don't hold your breath waiting for U.S. judges to agree with them. :eyes:

[pundaint]

7. Thank goodness there is a legal system in the World without it's head in the sand.

The United States of America should not stand for torture. But it does, and this administration is not upholding it's oath to act constitutionally.

[yellowcanine]

9. So can the CIA rendition Cheney to Ottawa if Canada comes knocking?

[buckrogers1965]

10. Please help America.

We are not able to obey our own laws anymore. It is up to the rest of the countries in the world to force us to abide by the rule of law. Please go after our criminals in your courts. Thank you.

[EFerrari]

11. You're right. This is completely out of control.

We don't even know what is happening at Bagram right now. And we have no free press to ask.