Gag Order Lifted On Canadian Torture Charges Against Bush

[struggle4progress]

by Lawyers against the War

October 19, 2005
GlobalResearch.ca

Lawyers Against the War (LAW) is claiming a victory in its battle to have George W. Bush face charges in Canada for torture.
The charges stem from the notorious cases of torture practiced by U.S. forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. They were laid on the occasion of George W. Bush’s controversial visit to Canada in November 2004. The charges were laid under sections of the Canadian Criminal Code enacted pursuant to the United Nations Torture Convention which requires extra-territorial jurisdiction to be exercised against officials, even Heads of State, who authorize or are otherwise responsible for torture.

On Monday, the Supreme Court of BC quashed an order banning publication of everything having to do with the charges imposed when they were first laid. In a secret hearing, held December 6th 2004 in B.C. Provincial Court, the charges against Bush were rejected on the basis of arguments by the Attorney General of British Columbia that the visiting president was shielded from prosecution by diplomatic immunity. A ban on publication of anything to do with the proceedings was also imposed.

The secrecy, the immunity claim and the ban are vigorously opposed by LAW, who appealed all aspects of the decision.

On Monday, Justice Satanove of the Supreme Court of British Columbia quashed the ban on publication after government lawyers failed to come up with any argument to defend it. The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association had intervened on the side of LAW against the ban. <snip>

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20051019&articleId=1115

[tk2kewl]

1. this calls for a little extraordinary rendition me thinks

:evilgrin:

[Roland99]

2. Let's let him squirm sans Rove/Cheney for a while first

:evilgrin:

[Skink]

4. Can he be arrested if he shows up in Canada?

:beer: I mean if he is later found guilty.

[AuntiBush]

6. Think I"ll Join You.

:beer: Ran out of :popcorn:

[Skink]

8. I think all here deserve a drink.

:toast: What a week.

[Roland99]

7. "the Attorney General of Canada has not yet consented to the prosecution."

Need them to file official charges and then, yeah, I guess he could technically be arrested if he sets foot in Canada.

[struggle4progress]

5. Prosecution of George W. Bush for Torture

MEDIA RELEASE

October 19, 2005

Prosecution of George W. Bush for Torture at Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo Bay Prisons

Notification of Canadian Officials

Lawyers against the War (L.A.W.) learned Nov 17, 2004 that George W. Bush was coming to Canada on Nov 30, 2004. During this period L.A.W. wrote to various governmental ministers advising of them that George W. Bush stood accused of the most grave crimes known to law, including torture, and therefore should be denied entry to Canada. L.A.W. notified the Prime Minister, the Immigration Minister and the Attorney General of Canada that these accusations were made by credible and knowledgeable groups and individuals throughout the world.

L.A.W. advised the Ministers that GW Bush’s responsibility derives from his direct involvement in the formulation of policy as both the President as well as the Commander in Chief of U.S. Armed Forces. They were informed that GW Bush had failed to prevent the commission of and once discovered, then failed to stop these Crimes Against Humanity through willful blindness or by deliberate policy.

L.A.W. received no reply to any of these letters and George W. Bush entered Canada on November 30th 2004. <snip>

Oct 28 Mootness written submission deadline
Nov 25 Mootness trial - 10 a.m. - B.C. Supreme Court, 800 Smithe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
— - Please direct your enquiries to: Gail Davidson at: Lawyers Against the War Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [e-mail] Website: www.lawyersagainstthewar.org

http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=8871

[enough]

3. Thanks for the good news.

[hootinholler]

9. OH! Canada!

:loveya:

-hoot

[Selteri]

10. Just wait, they'll offer - You can keep Emery we can keep Bush.

;sarcasm;

Seriously, I'd love to see what he's done with others done to him.. or at least see him arrested and thrown in prision.

[SeattleGirl]

11. Yeah, preferably down at "cushy" Gitmo!

I love this!

[bloom]

12. kick...

:kick: