NDP Calls for Inquiry into Afghan Soldier Handover

Kate Yule
Thursday, November 19, 2009

NDP critic Paul Dewar is calling for a public inquiry into allegations that Afghan soldiers handed over to local authorities by Canadian soldiers were routinely abused.

Former diplomat Richard Colvin told a Parliamentary committee that he repeatedly warned Ottawa about the allegations of torture, but his warnings were ignored.

Dewar says Canada’s reputation as a champion of human rights has been tarnished by the accusation that the federal government turned a blind eye to the abuse.

He says there must be an inquiry to find out the truth.

But the Harper government is dismissing calls for an inquiry. Defence Minister Peter MacKay says Colvin never actually witnessed torture, and there's no evidence to support his allegations.

Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon defended his government. Speaking in Kabul, he said, ‘We take and have always taken our responsibility regarding the treatment of Taliban prisoners seriously, and we expect the Afghan government to do the same.’