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What Ottawa doesn’t want you to know: Government was told detainees faced ‘extrajudicial executions, disappearances, torture and detention without trial’

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PAUL KORING, The Globe and Mail
April 25, 2007 at 1:00 AM EST

The Harper government knew from its own officials that prisoners held by Afghan security forces faced the possibility of torture, abuse and extrajudicial killing, The Globe and Mail has learned.

But the government has eradicated every single reference to torture and abuse in prison from a heavily blacked-out version of a report prepared by Canadian diplomats in Kabul and released under an access to information request.

Initially, the government denied the existence of the report, responding in writing that “no such report on human-rights performance in other countries exists.” After complaints to the Access to Information Commissioner, it released a heavily edited version this week.

Among the sentences blacked out by the Foreign Affairs Department in the report’s summary is “Extrajudicial executions, disappearances, torture and detention without trial are all too common,” according to full passages of the report obtained independently by The Globe.

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27 Responses to “What Ottawa doesn’t want you to know: Government was told detainees faced ‘extrajudicial executions, disappearances, torture and detention without trial’”

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  16. statism watch » Blog Archive » U.K. resident held at Gitmo alleges Canadian involvement in torture Says:

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    [...] Flashback: Ottawa moves to block Afghanistan detainee torture hearings again | Ottawa given evidence of torture, official says | Bid to Block Afghan Detainee Inquiry Slammed What Ottawa doesn’t want you to know: Government was told detainees faced ‘extrajudicial executi… [...]

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  23. statism watch » Blog Archive » Claims troops mistreated prisoners unfounded: military police Says:

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  24. statism watch » Blog Archive » PM Harper downplays detainee torture scandal, prorogation Says:

    [...] in Kabul. They obtained it through a freedom of information request and publicized it back in 2007: “Extrajudicial executions, disappearances, torture and detention without trial are all too common&…. This government has been stonewalling ever [...]

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  26. statism watch » Blog Archive » U.S. Troops Apologize For Wikileaks Massacre Video Says:

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  27. statism watch » Blog Archive » Afghan authorities beat citizens on ‘whim’: Military inquiry Says:

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