OTTAWA – A military watchdog agency has subpoenaed senior federal officials and is seeking a court order to force the Conservative government to release withheld information concerning the controversial transfer of suspected Taliban fighters into Afghan custody.
The Military Police Complaints Commission is trying to get around what it considers roadblocks to its investigation of allegations that first surfaced in 2007 accusing the Canadian military of handing over prisoners knowing they would probably be tortured.
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Subpoenas have been served on four former commanders of Canadian troops in Kandahar, the deputy minister and four employees of foreign affairs, and the chief of the Correctional Service of Canada, he said.
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In its attempt to derail the commission inquiry, the federal government has argued that the handling of prisoners is "not subject" to oversight by the military police complaints process, and that the National Defence Act only gives the agency the power to investigate complaints against military police.
...Allegations that the Canadian government's safeguards, meant to protect transferred prisoners from abuse and torture, were inadequate first surfaced in the spring of 2007. It's considered a war crime to transfer a prisoner between countries knowing that they likely face torture.
Officials are trying to avoid scrutiny, said Champ.
"They have refused to disclose documents, they've refused to provide access to witnesses. They've refused to co-operate in general.
"They've taken the military police complaints commission to court, they've sued our clients, all with the objective of quashing these hearings," he said.
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