New Democrats Table Motion For Inquiry To End Conservative Torture Cover Up
Today is the New Democratic Party’s opposition day in the House of Commons. The federal New Democrats have used the day to table a motion asking Parliament to implement a special public inquiry into the treatment of detainees in Afghanistan.
"Peter Mackay has gone from not knowing Mr. Colvin, to demonizing him, to blaming respected bureaucrats and generals for filtering Colvin’s warnings. The only thing made clear by Peter Mackay’s shifting defence is that we need a public inquiry to get to the truth."
Jack Layton
New Democrats hope that both the Liberal caucus and the Bloc Quebecois will support the motion.
Calls for a public inquiry have been coming forward since federal diplomat Richard Colvin appeared before a special parliamentary committee where he testified that he had warned of torture concerns dating back to 2006. Amnesty International is also calling for an inquiry.
Colvin testimony claimed that Afghan detainees captured by Canadian troops were being handed over to local authorities where they were beaten and subjected to electric shocks. Three top retired Canadian generals, including Rick Hillier, have denied knowledge of detainee abuse in that time period.
As well, Members of Parliament on the special committee have not yet been given copies of Colvin's emails on the issue. The Federal Conservatives, however, seem to have leaked highly censored copies of some of the emails to certain right leaning journalists in the MSM.
-Pressure mounts for Conservatives to allow inquiry into Afghan torture allegations - G&M
UPDATE!!
"Opposition MPs have passed a motion in the House of Commons calling on the government to launch a public inquiry into the handling of detainees in Afghanistan."
Globe & Mail
"Peter Mackay has gone from not knowing Mr. Colvin, to demonizing him, to blaming respected bureaucrats and generals for filtering Colvin’s warnings. The only thing made clear by Peter Mackay’s shifting defence is that we need a public inquiry to get to the truth."
Jack Layton
New Democrats hope that both the Liberal caucus and the Bloc Quebecois will support the motion.
Calls for a public inquiry have been coming forward since federal diplomat Richard Colvin appeared before a special parliamentary committee where he testified that he had warned of torture concerns dating back to 2006. Amnesty International is also calling for an inquiry.
Colvin testimony claimed that Afghan detainees captured by Canadian troops were being handed over to local authorities where they were beaten and subjected to electric shocks. Three top retired Canadian generals, including Rick Hillier, have denied knowledge of detainee abuse in that time period.
As well, Members of Parliament on the special committee have not yet been given copies of Colvin's emails on the issue. The Federal Conservatives, however, seem to have leaked highly censored copies of some of the emails to certain right leaning journalists in the MSM.
-Pressure mounts for Conservatives to allow inquiry into Afghan torture allegations - G&M
UPDATE!!
"Opposition MPs have passed a motion in the House of Commons calling on the government to launch a public inquiry into the handling of detainees in Afghanistan."
Globe & Mail
