160
OTTAWA — Opposition MPs called on Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor to reverse his department's decision to halt the disclosure of virtually all documents relating to detainees captured by the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.
"This is unacceptable," Liberal defence critic Denis Coderre said. "Just because this information has now become embarrassing to the government is not a valid reason to withhold information from the Canadian public."
As reported yesterday by The Globe and Mail, the office of General Rick Hillier, Canada's top soldier, has been reviewing all Access to Information requests related to detainees since last March, when allegations of prisoner mistreatment first came to light. The result is an almost blanket ban on the release of any new detainee-related documents, including many made public earlier.
In withholding the documents, the department cites a section of the access law that allows the government to refuse disclosure of information that would harm "the defence of Canada or any state allied or associated with Canada," including information that, if disclosed, would impair the detection, prevention or suppression of hostile activities.
Related Articles
Photogallery
Internet Links
- Text: New Afghan agreement
- Text (PDF): The Amnesty International lawsuit, now postponed
- Text (PDF): The former Canadian-Afghan detainee agreement
- Canada's Mission in Afghanistan: Globe stories, photos, interactive maps, discussions and more
Among the information now off-limits is the number of detainees captured by Canadian troops; its disclosure is "an operational security issue," Gen. Hillier determined.
"It's a total stain on democracy," Mr. Coderre said. "What are they hiding?" he added, noting that National Defence had in the past released figures on the number of detainees.
Gen. Hillier's role in the Access to Information process is carried out by the Strategic Joint Staff, a recently formed strategy unit within his office.
According to an e-mail written yesterday to Jeff Esau, an access expert working on behalf of The Globe and Mail, by Sophie Doucet of the DND access office, the Strategic Joint Staff "reviews files that pertain to Canada's mission in Afghanistan."
She added that the department's directorate responsible for access to information and privacy retains authority over what information to release.
However, observers note that, within a military hierarchy, it would be hard for the largely civilian personnel staffing that directorate to contradict the wishes of Gen. Hillier on military and operational matters.
A spokesman for Mr. O'Connor had no immediate comment on the controversy.
The Globe has launched an appeal challenging the defence department's decisions on the detainee files.
With a report from Jeff Esau
