Excerpt:
Canada Must Arrest George W. Bush if he Enters Canada
by Gail Davidson, Lawyers Against War (LAW)
Vancouver, B.C. — An upcoming planned speaking engagement in Canada by former President George W. Bush is again generating a wave of protest. Bush is reportedly scheduled to speak on October 20th at a gathering in Surrey, British Columbia hosted by Surrey Mayor Diane Watts.But Lawyers Against the War (LAW) says the Canadian government must either bar Bush at the border because of his alleged involvement in torture and other war crimes and crimes against humanity, or order his arrest when he enters Canada both to ensure he is prosecuted here or elsewhere, and to prevent him from returning to safe haven from prosecution in the United States.
In an August 25 letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Canadian Ministers of justice, immigration, public safety and foreign affairs, the group says “there is overwhelming evidence that George W. Bush …aided and abetted and counseled the torture of non-Americans at U.S. controlled prisons outside the U.S.”
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Thursday, August 25, 2011
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0A2
Fax: 1 613 941 6900
Email:
pm@pm.gc.caThe Honourable Robert Douglas Nicholson
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0H8
Fax: 1 613 954 0811
Email:
rob.nicholson@parl.gc.caThe Honourable Jason Kenney,
Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism
325 East Block, House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
P. 613-992-2235
F. 613-992-1920
Email: Jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca
The Honourable Vic Toews,
Minister of Public Safety, House of Commons
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613-992-3128
Fax: 613-995-1049
Email: vic.toews@parl.gc.ca
The Honourable John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Lester B.Pearson Building, Tower A
125 Sussex Drive. Ottawa, ON, K1A 0G2
Telephone: 613-995-1851: Fax: 613-996-3443; 1 613 996 0984
Email:
john.baird@parl.gc.caMr. Prime Minister and Ministers Nicholson, Kenney, Toews and Baird:
Re: Visit of George W. Bush on October 20, 2011: Canada must prevent entry or arrest and ensure
prosecution for torture.
George W. Bush is reported to be coming to Surrey British Columbia on October 20, 2011 at the
invitation of Surrey Mayor Diane Watts. There is overwhelming evidence that George W. Bush as
President of the United States of America (US) and Commander in Chief of the US Armed Forces aided,
abetted and counseled the torture of non-Americans at US controlled prisons outside the US including but
not limited to Guantánamo Bay prison in Cuba, Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, Bagram prison in Afghanistan
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other places. This letter of complaint focuses on torture allegations while acknowledging evidence of
other war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out by the Bush administration.
We are writing to report that:
Forces, is inadmissible to Canada under the
35(1)(a) because of overwhelming evidence that he has ‘committed, outside Canada, torture and other
offences referred to in sections 4 to 7 of the
George W. Bush, former President of the United States and Commander is Chief of the ArmedImmigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), sectionCrimes against Humanity and War Crimes Act(CAHWC)
1; and,violations, or a war crime or a crime against humanity within the meaning of subsections 6(3) to (5)
of the CAHWC.
We are writing to request that you act immediately to ensure that :
the George W. Bush Administration is known to have engaged in “systematic or gross human rightshaven from prosecution for torture either in Canada or by returning the United States; and,
On entering Canada, George W. Bush is arrested to ensure that he will not receive safeprosecuted in a jurisdiction willing and able to prosecute him for torture.
Canada initiates a prosecution for torture of George W. Bush or extradites him to beWe request that you also ensure that the RCMP War Crimes Section immediately takes the following
steps:
November 13, 2001 and November 2008 at Guantánamo Bay prison in Cuba, Abu Ghraib prison in
Iraq, Bagram prison in Afghanistan and other places; and,
begin an investigation of George W. Bush for aiding, abetting and counseling torture betweenand other war crimes and crimes against humanity and therefore G.W. Bush, as former President, is
also inadmissible under section 35(1)(b) of the IRPA.
Canada has a legal duty to deny safe haven from prosecution to anyone suspected of torture, committed
anywhere against any persons. Under the
suspected of involvement in torture must be denied entry to Canada. Once a suspect enters the country,
Canada then has a legal obligation to ensure that suspect is prosecuted, if not in Canada, in a jurisdiction
willing and able to do so. Discharge of this duty usually would require the arrest and detention of the
suspect to prevent the suspect from escaping to a jurisdiction willing to provide safe haven from
prosecution. Given that US Attorney General has declared and demonstrated a refusal to prosecute Bush
for torture, if Bush is allowed entry, Canada’s initial duty would be first to prevent him returning to safe
haven in the U.S.
acknowledge that the George W. Bush administration is a “ government that has engaged in tortureImmigration and Refugee Protection Act (s. 35) anyone2 and then to ensure his prosecution either here or elsewhere.1
against humanity include murder, enforced disappearance, deportation, imprisonment, torture and imprisonment or
other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law, committed against
any civilian population or any identifiable group. War crimes include willful killing, torture and inhuman treatment,
unlawful confinement and willfully depriving a prisoner of war or other protected person of fair trial rights.
Under sections 4 to 7 of the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act (S.C. 2000, chap. 24) crimes2
administration officials.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has refused to consider torture investigations or prosecution of BushL
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Canadian courts have recognized that the duty to deny safe haven from prosecution cannot be mitigated in
the case of grave and heinous crimes such as torture. Inadmissibility under the IRPA is established when
there are “reasonable grounds to believe” the foreign national—in this case George W. Bush--has
engaged in torture or other international crimes. The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that reasonable
grounds are, “something more than suspicion but less than…proof on the balance of probabilities.”
torture is considered a grave and heinous crime, “the full application of s. 35 of the IRPA cannot be
mitigated.”
however brief, in Canada.
The law prohibits treating torture as legal—which Canadian authorities would have to do to either allow
Bush entry or on entry, to forbear from arresting and ensuring prosecution here or in another jurisdiction.
Canada’s legal duties to prevent and punish torture wherever, by whoever and against whomever
committed and to deny suspects safe haven from prosecution arise under a variety of binding instruments
including the:
torture and other Cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
(GCs),
3 As4 There is therefore no discretion to provide Bush safe haven from prosecution during a stay,Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Rome Statute), Convention against(CAT), Geneva ConventionsCrimes against Humanity and War Crimes Act (CAHWCA) and the Criminal Code of Canada(Criminal Code). Canada’s jurisdiction to prosecute George W. Bush for torture is triggered if: George
W. Bush enters Canada; and/or, a victim of the alleged torture (Omar Khadr) is a Canadian citizen.
Evidence of Torture
Evidence of G.W. Bush’s complicity in torture is overwhelming. As stated by Maj. General Antonio M.
Taguba, author of the U.S. Army’s 2004 internal report on Abu Ghraib,
“… the Commander-in-Chief [Bush] and those under him authorized a systematic regime of
torture…. After years of disclosures by government investigations, media accounts, and reports
from human rights organizations, there is no longer any doubt as to whether the current [Bush]
administration has committed war crimes. The only question that remains to be answered is
whether those who ordered the use of torture will be held to account.”
5Many people aware of the evidence and the law have concluded that the available evidence establishes
conclusively that George W. Bush and other members of the Bush Administration committed torture (and
other war crimes and crimes against humanity) and therefore states now have a duty to condemn,
investigate, prosecute and punish those crimes. Following are a sample of conclusions and remarks by a
variety of such people. Comprehensive lists of evidence are readily available from a variety of sources
and will be provided on request.
In July 2004 the International Committee of the Red Cross concluded that the American military had used
interrogation techniques tantamount to torture on prisoners in Guantánamo Bay.
63
Mugesera v Canada, [2005] 2 S.C. R. 100 , para. 1144
Varela v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2009] 1 FCR 605 at para. 44.5
Torture by U.S. Personnel and its Impacts,
Maj. General Antonio M. Taguba (USA-Ret.), Preface to Broken Laws, Broken Lives: Medical Evidence ofA Report by Physicians for Human Rights, June 2008.http://brokenlives.info/?page_id=69
6
Neil A. Lewis, Red Cross Finds Detainee Abuse in Guantánamo, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2004.L
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In a February 2006 report, a group of UN experts concluded that sleep deprivation for several consecutive
days, enforced isolation, the use of dogs, and exposure to extreme temperatures were all being used at
Guantánamo Bay prison by US officials and that these interrogation methods met all five elements of
torture (perpetrated by government official, had a clear purpose, committed intentionally, victims in a
position of powerlessness and caused severe physical or mental pain or suffering.)
7In May 2006, the UN Committee on Torture called on the US to close Guantánamo Bay prison, to
eradicate the use of torture by military and civilian personnel and to rescind authority to use any
interrogation method that constitutes torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
8In June 2007 the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly report by Senator Dick Marty concluded that
“the CIA [the US Central Intelligence Agency] committed a whole series of illegal acts in Europe
by abducting individuals, detaining them in secret locations and subjecting them to interrogation
techniques tantamount to torture.
9In December 2008 the US Senate Armed Services Committee concluded,
“senior officials [Bush and others] in the United States government solicited information on how
to use aggressive techniques, redefined the law to create the appearance of their legality, and
authorized their use against detainees.”
10In January 2009 Manfred Nowak, then the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture said,
“The evidence is sitting on the table…There is no avoiding the fact that this was torture… The
government of the United States is required to take all necessary steps to bring George W. Bush
and Donald Rumsfeld before a court.”
11In February 2009, UN Special Rapporteur Martin Scheinin reached the same conclusion,
“…the United States has created a comprehensive system of extraordinary renditions, prolonged
and secret detention, and practices that violate the prohibition against torture and other forms of
ill-treatment….States must not aid or assist in the commission of acts of torture, or recognize
7
Arbitrary Detention, Leila Zerrougui; the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Leandro
Despouy; the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,
Manfred Nowak; the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Asma Jahangir; and the Special
Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental
health, Paul Hunt, E/CN.4/2006/120, 27 February 2006, at paras. 51 and 52.
Situation of detainees at Guantánamo Bay Report of the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on8
Doc. CAT/C/USA/CO/2 25 July 2006, paras 22, 24 and 26.
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee against Torture: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,9
involving council of Europe member states: second report, CoE Doc. 11302 rev, 11 June 2007 at pp. 7 para. 9
Dick Marty, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Secret detentions and illegal transfers of detainees10
2008., Executive Summary, p. xii. http://armedservices.
senate.gov/Publications/Detainee%20Report%20Final_April%2022%202009.pdf
Senate Armed Services Committee Inquiry Into The Treatment Of Detainees In U.S. Custody, Dec. 11,11
Magazine, 21 Jan. 2009.
Scott Horton, UN Rapporteur: Initiate criminal proceedings against Bush and Rumsfeld now, HarpersL
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such practices as lawful, …Under international human rights law, States are under a positive
obligation to conduct independent investigations into alleged violations of the right to life,
freedom from torture or other inhuman treatment, enforced disappearances or arbitrary detention,
to bring to justice those responsible for such acts, and to provide reparations where they have
participated in such violations.”
On March 4 2009, then UN General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, on March 4, 2009
concluded,
"The [Bush Administration] aggressions against Iraq and Afghanistan and their occupations
constitute atrocities that must be condemned and repudiated by all who believe in the rule of law in
international relations,"
In May 2009 former Vice President Dick Cheney publicly stated that George W. Bush authorized the
use of torture,
“ I mean it was a presidential-level decision. And the decision went to the president. He signed
off on it.”
12 (underlining added)13In his 2010 memoirs, George W. Bush admitted to authorizing the use of interrogation techniques that
constitute torture such as water boarding.
14In February 2011 Bush cancelled a trip
torture. Human Rights groups had called on the Swiss government to arrest him and open a criminal
investigation if he entered the country citing Switzerland’s legal obligations under CAT. The New Yorkbased
Center for Constitutional Rights and the Berlin-based European Center for Constitutional and
Human Rights, backed by many others—released and threatened to file a 45-page indictment backed up
by a 2,500 page summary of evidence of Bush’s role in authorizing, directing and supervising torture used
at U.S. controlled prison including Bagram Afghanistan, Abu Ghraib, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay Cuba.
15 to Switzerland because he faced the risk of prosecution for16Reed Brody of Human Rights Watch commented, “I'm surprised he (Bush) would even consider visiting a
country that has ratified the torture convention and which takes its responsibilities seriously."
17In June 2011 Human Rights Watch published an extensive report concluding that members of the Bush
administration had used torture and should be prosecuted.
1812
while countering terrorism, Martin Scheinin, A/HRC/10/3,4 February 2009.
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms13
dick-cheney-on-face-the-nation-10-may.html
10 May 2009 CBS, Face the Nation. http://www.enduringamerica.com/may-2009/2009/5/9/video-andtranscript-14
Decision Points, Crown Publishing Group 2010, p. 169-71.15
Bush was reported to be coming to Geneva to speak at the Keren Hayesod's annual dinner on Feb. 12, 2011.16
Preliminary Indictment for Torture: George W. Bush Brought Pursuant to the Convention Against Torture;http://ccrjustice.org/files/FINAL%207%20Feb%20BUSH%20INDICTMENT.pdf
17
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/05/us-bush-torture-idUSTRE7141CU20110205
Stephanie Nebehay, Bush's Swiss visit off after complaints on torture, Reuters, 5 February 2011.18
Getting Away with Torture: The Bush Administration and Mistreatment of Detainees, Human Rights Watch,
June 2011
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Duty to prosecute
The duty to prosecute George W. Bush for torture (and other war crimes and crimes against humanity)
once he is in Canada, arises from many sources including:
Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes Act(CAHWCA),
Statute) and
Punishment
over those responsible for international crimes.” CAT, specifically requires Canada to either prosecute or
extradite for prosecution any person within Canadian territory, alleged to have committed torture. (Art. 7)
Under CAT, Art. 12, Canada has an urgent duty to investigate allegations of torture and of other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment as part of its duty to prevent such crimes. The CAT Committee has ruled
that delay by a state to investigate allegations of torture
violation of CAT.
administration is imperative. It became so in March 2004 when Canada received notice that the US had
subjected Omar Khadr to prolonged sleep deprivation and isolation to prepare him for questioning by
Canadian officials. The Federal Court confirmed earlier findings of UN experts that this practice was,
“…a breach of international human rights law respecting the treatment of detainees under UNCAT and the
1949 Geneva Conventions.”
Canada.
Under Article 1 of all Geneva Conventions (GCs), Canada has an obligation to respect and to ensure
respect for the Conventions “in all circumstances.” Torture and inhuman treatment are grave breaches of
the GCs. Having knowledge of grave breaches, Canada is legally required to,
“…search for persons alleged to have committed, or to have ordered to be committed, such grave
breaches, and shall bring such persons, regardless of their nationality, before its own courts. It
may also, if it prefers, and in accordance with the provisions of its own legislation, hand such
persons over for trial to another High Contracting Party concerned, provided such High
Contracting Party has made out a prima facie case.” (GC III Art. 130; GC IV Art. 146 ;.)
Canada has enacted the jurisdiction to prosecute torture and other grave breaches of the GCs as defined
by the Rome Statute, wherever those crimes occur when the victim is a Canadian citizen (Omar Khadr)
and/or the suspect (George W. Bush) is in Canada. The
establishes jurisdiction to prosecute torture committed outside Canada in these circumstances.
Criminal Code of Canada, Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (RomeConvention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or(CAT). The Rome Statute, obliges Canada generally to, “…exercise its criminal jurisdictionor inhumane or degrading treatment is itself a19 Canada’s duty to investigate torture by George W. Bush and other officials of the Bush20 The duty to prosecute becomes imperative when George W. Bush entersCriminal Code of Canada (CC) s. 269.1 & 7(3.7)21 TheCrimes against Humanity and War Crimes Act
torture a crime and establish Canada’s jurisdiction to prosecute foreign nationals when the victim is a
Canadian citizen and/or when the suspect enters Canada.
(CAHWCA) and the Geneva Conventions Act also make19
Abad v. Spain
See Halimi-Nedzibi v. Australia in which a 15-month delay was adjudged a breach of Article 12 and Blancowhere a delay of 32 days was held by the CAT Committee to be a breach of CAT Article 12.20
175 C.R.R. (2d) 345.
Khadr v. Canada (Attorney General), 2008 FC 807 (CanLII), June 25, 2008, at para. 88. 59 C.R. (6th) 284 •21
(3) & 8(a) (iii),
Criminal Code of Canada, ss. 269, 7(3.7); Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes Act, (2000, c.24) ss. 6(1)Geneva Conventions Act, R.S. 1985 c. G-3.L
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The evidence of torture by the Bush administration and the evidence of Bush’s involvement in aiding
abetting and counseling torture while President of the United States and the Commander in Chief of the
US Armed Forces coupled with the law imposes a mandatory duty on Canada to:
1. Prevent George W. Bush from entering Canada; or,
2. If George W. Bush enters Canada, to prevent him receiving safe haven from torture in
Canada or by returning to the US; and,
3. Ensure that George W. Bush is prosecuted for torture in accordance with law in Canada or
extradited to a jurisdiction willing and able to prosecute him for torture.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail Davidson, Lawyers against the War Professor Francis A. Boyle
University of Illinois College of Law USA
Board of Directors, Amnesty International USA
(1988-92)
Law Building, 504 E. Pennsylvania Ave.
Champaign, IL 61820 USA
Tel: 217-333-7954 ; Fax: 217-244-1478 (fax)
Copies to:
Nycole Turmel, interim Leader of the New Democratic Party,
nycole.turmel@parl.gc.caJoe Comartin MP, NDP Justice Critic, joe.comartin@parl.gc.ca
Don Davies MP, NDP Citizenship, Immigration critic, dondavies.ndp.ca
Paul Dewar MP, NDP Foreign Affairs Critic, paul.dewar@parl.gc.ca
Jasbir Sandhu MP, NDP Public Safety Critic, jasbir.sandhu@parl.gc.ca
Mr. Rob Rae, MP, Interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada,
rae.b@parl.gc.caMr. Irwin Cotler MP, Liberal Justice Critic, irwin.cotler@parl.gc.ca
Mr. Francis Scarpaleggia MP, Liberal Public Safety Critic, francis.scarpaleggia@parl.gc.ca
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux MP, Liberal Immigration Critic, Kevin.lamoureux@parl.gc.ca
Mr. Dominic LeBlanc MP, Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic, dominic.leblanc@parl.gc.ca
Ms. Elizabeth May MP, Leader of the Green Party of Canada,
leader@greenparty.caJean Francois Fortin MP, Bloq Quebecois Foreign Affairs Critic, jean-francois.fortin@parl.gc.ca
André Bellavance MP, Bloq Quebecois Citizenship and Immigration Critic, andre.bellavance@parl.gc.ca
Maria Mourani MP, Bloq Quebecois Justice and Public Safety Critic, maria.mourani@parl.gc.ca
Mr. Juan Méndez, UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment,
sr-torture@ohchr.orgMr. Alex Neve, Amnesty International Canada, aneve@amnesty.ca
Mayor Diane Watts of Surrey BC Fax: 604-591-5175 mayor@surrey.ca
RCMP Commissioner William J.S. Elliott,
William.elliott@rcmp-grc.gc.caRCMP Superintendent Lloyd Plante, lloyde.plante@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
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