National Defense Minister Gordon O'Connor has apologized to the House of Commons for misleading comments he made on the treatment of detainees captured by Canadian Forces and handed to Afghan authorities.
"I fully and without reservation apologize to the House for providing inaccurate information for members," Mr. O'Connor said in a point of order that kick-started the parliamentary session Monday morning. "I take full responsibility and do so without hesitations."
Mr. O'Connor also tabled letters correcting information the minister and DND officials have provided to the House of Commons. Last year, Mr. O'Connor told MPs that the Red Cross is monitoring the condition of detainees transferred to Afghan authorities.
However, his claims were contradicted by a Red Cross official in a Globe and Mail report two weeks ago. "The International Red Cross Committee is under no obligation to share information with Canada on the treatment of detainess transferred by Canada to Afghan authorities," Mr. O'Connor said.
The Afghan independent human rights commission (AIHRC) will inform Canada of abuses, Mr. O'Connor said. Afghanistan's president and AIHRC's top officials have assured him of that during a visit to Afghanistan last week, he said.
Defence Department officials have said that the agreement builds on a technical arrangement signed in December 2005 by Afghanistan's defence minister and Canada's defence chief, Gen. Rick Hillier.
The Hillier deal, which has been criticized by human-rights groups, obliges Canadian troops to turn over captured fighters to local authorities but does not allow Canada any say in their treatment once handed over. It also recognized the Afghan human-rights commission but did not set out a specific role for the agency.
Under the new agreement signed last month, Canada must notify the ICRC as well as the Afghan human-rights commission when it transfers prisoners to Afghan custody.
Canada's Military Police Complaints Commission is investing allegations that on 18 occasions troops handed over prisoners knowing they would be abused. Amnesty International Canada and the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association lodged the complaint that prompted the investigation.
There are also at least three investigations going on into the alleged beating of three captured Taliban who were picked up near the village of Dukah, 50 kilometres west of Kandahar, last April 7.
According to prisoner-transfer logs obtained and released to the media by an Ottawa law professor, the prisoners suffered lacerations and contusions. Prof. Amir Attaran said the injuries appear to have been inflicted while the men were in Canadian custody — an allegation the military denies but is nonetheless investigating.
- with files by Canadian Press
