New deal reached on detainees
27 April, 2007
OTTAWA: Faced with more bruising criticisms over its handling of the prisoner abuse scandal, the Conservative government made a surprising - and confused - announcement that it has struck a new deal allowing Canadians to visit Afghan jails.
Under the new "arrangement," Canadian officials will be able to enter Afghan detention facilities "any time they want," Defence Minister Gordon O`Connor told the Commons` foreign affairs committee.
Human rights groups have been critical of the existing prisoner transfer agreement - signed in 2005 - because it doesn`t give Canadians any right to follow up on the condition of prisoners they`ve transferred into Afghan custody.
But in a chaotic crush of television cameras and reporters, O`Connor refused to provide any more details as he left the afternoon meeting.
In a statement issued later, O`Connor said the new deal "will enable access to Afghan detention facilities in Kandahar province by Canadian military officials."
He said the regional director for the Afghan National Directorate of Security has agreed to open up the facilities to Canadian inspections. "We will establish continuous liaison with the prison authorities for the purpose of verifying the state of detainees," O`Connor said.
But the policy seemed cobbled together on the fly as Gen. Rick Hillier, the chief of defence staff, contradicted O`Connor and denied that military staff will play a key role.
"This is not a military lead," said Hillier, who was with O`Connor at the committee meeting. "That`s not our area of expertise or responsibilities."
O`Connor issued a revised statement later, saying "Canadian government officials" would be responsible for assessing the detention facilities.
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