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Wed Sep 8 21:49:27 PDT 2010

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On Wed, Sep 8, 2010 at 10:47 AM, StopWar <stopwar-l at lists.resist.ca> wrote:

> 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
>
>
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