[imc-ontario-stories] Stop Canadian Complicity in Torture: June 8 National Day of Action

[TASC]

(please forward far and wide)

Join the June 8 National Day of Action to End Canadian Deportation to
Torture and Abolish Secret Trials

The month of June is marked by numerous anniversaries, among them the
Canadian ratification of the Convention Against Torture (June 24, 1987) and
the signing of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(which forbids torture and inhuman or degrading treatment, slavery or
involuntary servitude, arbitrary arrest and detention).

Both of them are vitally relevant to the issue of secret trials in Canada
and deportation to torture. June 20 is also World Refugee Day. June 26 is
the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Both
will no doubt be marked with solemn yet hypocritical words of wisdom from
Canadian political leaders.

Canada continues to violate these treaties and covenants in its treatment
of the Secret Trial Five (indefinite detention, house arrest, continued
proceedings to deport to torture) as well as many other immigrants and
refugees subject to lengthy detention in Canada and deportation to abuse
abroad.

On June 8, we invite you to be part of a national day of action to end the
growing Canadian practice of deportation to torture,  recently condemned in
no uncertain terms by Human Rights Watch in a report on the uselessness of
seeking "diplomatic assurances" against torture of deported detainees. As
Human Rights Watch concludes, "countries [like Canada] that rely on such
assurances are either engaging in wishful thinking or using the assurances
as a figleaf to cover their complicity in torture and their role in the
erosion of the international norm against torture."

In four of the five secret trial cases (Hassan Almrei, Mohammad Mahjoub,
Mahmoud Jaballah, Adil Charkaoui), there is an official acknowledgement
from the Canadian government itself that these men face a substantial risk
of torture or death if deported. Expert human rights opinions have come to
the same conclusion for Mohamed Harkat (who has yet to have his government
pre-removal risk assessment).

Yet still the government continues its efforts to deport these men, in the
meantime condemning them to years of indefinite detention and, in one case,
draconian house arrest release conditions.

Events are already planned across Canada, including in Montreal, Ottawa,
Edmonton, Durham, Vancouver and Toronto, where a 24-hour vigil at Minister
of Deportation Joe Volpe's office is scheduled. We are seeking Volpe's
written guarantee that he will stop behaving like an international outlaw,
and stop proceedings to deport these men.

We invite interested groups to hold a vigil at MPs' offices, election or
not, to seek a similar guarantee that they are opposed to deportation to
torture, and opposed not only to the indefinite detention under secret
trial security certificates but also the draconian house arrest release
provisions which Irwin Cotler currently poses as a "solution." There is no
reason why any of these men cannot be released on standard bail conditions.
(a copy of the statement which numerous MPs have already signed is
available at http://www.homesnotbombs.ca/secrettrialstatement.htm

If you cannot organize an event but would like to help out, June 8 would be
a good day to at least call or write your MP and drop a line to Joe Volpe
and Anne McLellan about this issue. (Anne McLellan, Minister of Public
Safety and Emergency Preparedness, House of Commons, 306 Justice Building,
Ottawa, K1A 0A6, (613) 992-2406, Fax: (613) 995-7408., and Joe Volpe,
Immigration Minister, Rm 658, Confederation Bldg, House of Commons, Ottawa,
ON K1A 0A6, (613) 992-6361, Fax: (613) 992-9791

TIP OF THE ICEBERG
The Secret Trial Five cases represent the tip of the iceberg.  Indeed,
Canada continues to deport over 10,000 people to an uncertain fate every
year, often to human rights abusing countries. And the government's
pre-removal risk assessment, which determines the risk someone faces if
deported, has an approval rate of 1.5% (a remarkable figure, but not
surprising, given that the same department responsible for pursuing the
deportations conducts the risk assessments).

Equally shocking is Canada's nod and wink approach to torturers. The
government knew that Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi was subject to
unspeakable acts of torture in Iran, yet Canada sent new diplomatic
representation to that country and did not speak up about it until six
months later, after an Iranian refugee revealed this shocking fact).


WHAT IS CANADA SENDING PEOPLE BACK TO?
According to Amnesty International, the common forms of torture to which a
country like Canada is prepared to deport people include being "beaten with
fists, sticks, gun-butts, makeshift whips, iron pipes, baseball bats,
electric flex. Victims suffer bruises, internal bleeding, broken bones,
lost teeth, ruptured organs and some die.

"Rape and sexual abuse of prisoners is also widespread. Other common
methods of torture and ill-treatment include electric shocks (reported in
more than 40 countries), suspension of the body (more than 40 countries),
beating on the soles of the feet (more than 30 countries), suffocation
(more than 30 countries), mock execution or death threat (more than 50
countries) and prolonged solitary confinement (more than 50 countries).

Other methods include submersion in water, stubbing of cigarettes on the
body, being tied to the back of a car and being dragged behind it, sleep
deprivation and sensory deprivation."

This, then, is what Canadian tax dollars are being used for: to send the
Secret Trial Five and countless others back to countries where the
mutilation of genitals, the removal of finger and toenails, the repeated
near drowning in fetid toilets, suspension of the body in contorted
positions, and other cruelties are common practice.

Join us as we try and bring Canada in line with the norms of a civilized,
lawful country. If you are planning an event, please let us know at
tasc at web.ca

Thanks!


Campaign to Stop Secret Trials in Canada
(416) 651-5800, tasc at web.ca, homesnotbombs.ca

For information on events near or around your vicinity, contact
Justice for Adil:  justiceforadil at riseup.net, (514) 859 9023  www.adilinfo.org
Justice vor Mohamed, www.zerra.net/freemohamed,
justicepourmohamedharkat at yahoo.ca
Campaign to Styop Secret Trials in Canada ((416) 651-5800, tasc at web.ca,
homesnotbombs.ca--if you can sign up for a block of time during the 24 hour
vigil in Toronto, please let us know.