[Stopwar-l] StopWar.ca - News and Events

[StopWar]

StopWar.ca E-Newsletter September 8 2010

*************************************

Email: stopwar at resist.ca
Web: http://stopwar.ca
Blog: http://stopwarblog.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/StopWarCa

*************************************

In this week's e-newsletter:

1) Save the date: Sept 25 action on Afghan War, fighter jet purchases
2) BCCLA on resumption of MPCC inquiry on Afghan detainees
3) Other upcoming meetings and events
4) Important news articles

*************************************

1) Save the date: Sept 25 action against Afghan War, fighter jet purchases

StopWar is organizing an action on Saturday, Sept. 25, starting 12 Noon at
City Centre Skytrain station (corner of Granville & Seymour). This will be
part of a pan-Canadian day of action against extension of the war in
Afghanistan. We will also be showing our opposition to the Harper
government's multi-billion dollar purchase of new F-35 fighter jets. Stay
tuned for more details.

*************************************

2) BCCLA on resumption of MPCC inquiry on Afghan detainees

Link: http://www.bccla.org/pressreleases/10MPCC.html

The Military Police Complaints Commission is set to resume its inquiry into
the conduct of the military police in transferring detainees captured
by Canadian forces into Afghan custody in the face of reported risks of
torture in Afghan prisons.  The Commission was adjourned earlier this
year while it awaited further production of documents from the Canadian
government.

The Commission’s public interest hearing was established in response to
complaints filed by Amnesty International Canada and the BCCLA in 2007. 
Witness hearings commenced earlier this year, and thus far, the testimony
provided has been troubling.

Alex Neve, Secretary-General of Amnesty International:  “Amidst all of the
rhetoric, name-calling and finger-pointing that has marked so much of the
political debate about Afghan prisoner transfers, it is crucial not to
lose sight of what is at stake in these hearings.  Torture is never
justified.  Complicity in torture is never justified.  Going ahead with
prisoner transfers in the face of a known risk of torture is on the wrong
side of those fundamental principles.  That is what the MPCC is
examining.”

Grace Pastine, Litigation Director for the BCCLA:  “Wilful blindness and
blame-shifting have been the dominant themes to date.  We’ve heard
senior members of the Canadian Forces and officials in Foreign Affairs
testify that they were ignorant of numerous reports issued by the U.S.
State Department and the U.N., all of which attest to the prevalence of
torture in Afghan prisons. Government and military officials have
pointed fingers at everyone except themselves. The public has a right
to know why these illegal transfers are continuing to this day, and why
there’s been a complete failure to investigate these very serious
breaches of domestic and international law.”

The witness hearings will commence on Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 9:00
AM at 270 Albert Street, 10th floor, in Ottawa, Ontario and are set to
run until October 13, 2010.  The witnesses currently scheduled during
this period are MGen Michael Ward, LGen André Deschamps, DFAIT official
John Davison, MGen (ret’d) Timothy Grant, LCol Irwin, BGen Guy Laroche,
LGen Michel Gauthier, and Col Christian Juneau.

Amnesty and the BCCLA are  represented by lawyers Paul Champ, Carmen
Cheung, Khalid Elgazzar, and Grace  Pastine. 
*************************************

3) Other upcoming meetins and events

Thursday, Sept. 9
Support action for Mapuche hunger strikers

The Mapuche Solidarity Collective – Unceded Coast Salish Territory:

In a declaration of solidarity with 33 detained Mapuche hunger strikers
whose current medical status is of grave concern, the Mapuche Solidarity
Collective – Unceded Coast Salish Territory has joined the International
Campaign in Support of Mapuche Political Prisoners  and, we are inviting
community activist from the Vancouver and surrounding areas of the Lower
Mainland and all those concerned with the rights of indigenous people ,  to
attend a demonstration in front of the Chilean Consulate (located at 1185
West Georgia St., Suite 1610 – Vancouver, BC) to formally declare our
opposition to the Chilean government's continued application of Pinochet-era
anti-terrorism legislation against Mapuche democratic protest. The event,
which will involve the presentation of a letter to the Chilean Consul in
Vancouver, will take place on Thursday, September the 9th at 1:00pm.
Read more here: http://rabble.ca/whatsup/protest-solidarity-mapuche-people

*

Thursday, Sept. 9
Information Session: Canadian Boat to Gaza
5:30pm at the Maritime Labour Centre (111 Victoria Dr)

-Interesting in supporting the Canadian Boat to Gaza? Want to learn more
about this challenge to the Israeli siege of Gaza? Join us for an
information session and discussion. More information about the project
here: http://canadaboatgaza.org/

*

Sunday, Sept. 26
Film showing: Rethink Afghanistan (http://rethinkafghanistan.com/)
6:30pm at Rhizome Cafe (317 E. Broadway, at Kingsway,
http://www.rhizomecafe.ca/)

Join us for a showing of Brave New Films' 'Rethink Afghanistan' and a
discussion of the latest developments in the war. Admission by donation.
Organized by StopWar.ca.


*

Tuesday, Oct. 12

Real Aid, True Solidarity: An Anti-War Benefit Evening for Afghanistan
and Palestine Featuring Malalai Joya

7pm
at W2 Storyeum
151 W. Cordova (Between Cambie and Abbott)

-Plus other guest speakers on Palestine and Pakistan, musical performances
and more... Tickets sliding scale $10-20. Available for sale soon at People's
Coop Bookstore, 1391 Commercial Dr.

Information

Malalai Joya was the youngest woman elected to Afghanistan’s parliament in
2005, but was expelled from her position and has faced five assassination
attempts because of her opposition to the warlords in the Karzai regime
and her fearless advocacy of women’s rights. She has emerged as one of the
most prominent voices against NATO’s war, with TIME magazine recently
naming her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

With the Canadian government threatening to extend Canada’s support of the
occupation of Afghanistan beyond 2011, this special evening is an
important chance to hear directly from an Afghan women’s leader about the
war.

In addition, your contributions will go towards bringing genuine aid to
the people directly affected by Canadian foreign policy in both
Afghanistan and Palestine. Money raised will be go to support two very
worthy causes:

-The Canadian Boat to Gaza, a civil society initiative to challenge the
siege of Gaza and bring urgently needed humanitarian aid. (See
http://canadaboatgaza.org/)

-Malalai Joya’s Defense Committee, which provides much needed financial
support to a free medical clinic in Farah Province, and works to support
other grassroots health and education projects throughout Afghanistan.
(See http://afghanwomensmission.org/awmnews/index.php?articleIDU)

Organized by StopWar.ca. For more information, email stopwar at resist.ca.


*****************************************

4) Some important news articles this week:

-Supporters of peace and justice should get behind the Canadian Boat to Gaza:
http://rabble.ca/news/2010/09/supporters-justice-and-peace-should-get-behind-gaza-flotilla

-Tony Blair book launch party cancelled:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/sep/08/tony-blair-book-party-cancelled

-NATO asks for more troops for Afghanistan:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvWEqwq3CrRvaQCmt21MfoYhjZJQD9I2H5C01

-Democracy Now's Amy Goodman on Koran-burning and September 11:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/sept_11_a_day_without_war_20100907/?ln