"You Can't, You Won't And You Don't Stop..."

hrm. The New Kids on the Block are actually touring. False advertising knows no bounds apparently...New? Kids?
Really?

I sent an email at the beginning of March to my MP and the leaders of the parties asking for some clarification on reports from Amnesty International about claims of torture by detainees at the hands of Afghan authorities, and similar reports indicating widespread abuse throughout the Afghan prison system. I am pleased to report that the first response I got (on March 13th) was from (the assistant of ) Jack Layton and the NDP:

The NDP have been pressing the issue of treatment of detainees for quite some time. We have repeatedly asked the Harper government why they are withholding key information, witnesses, and documents that are essential to get to the bottom of the alleged prisoner abuse.

Furthermore, we are on record saying that Canada must not turn detainees over to Afghan authorities until we fix the flaws in the Prisoner Transfer Agreement to ensure that Canada lives up to its Geneva Convention obligations. I want you to know that the NDP will continue to push the Harper government for action.

Then yesterday, I got a response from ("Assistant 1") my MP:

"Both military and government official in Kandahar are satisfied that conditions of Afghan prisons have improved since allegations of abuse were reported.

Since then:
* Canadian officials have conducted more than two dozen visits to the Kandahar detention centre

* This government has funded $1.5 million for prison improvements
* Canada will be providing training on human rights standards to staff at the Kandahar detention facility
* There has been record-keeping improvements for all detainees handed over to Afghan authorities.

The military respect their international obligations and make decisions each and every day on difficult operational matters such as this. As such, Canada's current transfer agreement with Afghanistan will remain in force as long as the standards expected remain consistent with their current state.
Thank you again for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to do so again in the future with your questions and comments.

Sincerely, Honourable Rona Ambrose, P.C., M.P.

45 days for the government to return an email? The responses are typical and totally what I expected, they explain little. I wonder what the $1.5 million for "prison improvements" was spent on? I wish my Canadian mind was put at ease knowing the government appears to be reacting and supplying assistance and human rights training, but its not.

My next email will ask about blacked out documents and the real potential of Canada being charged with war crimes.

Jebus.

Song Du Jour: Sure Shot by The Beastie Boys