Wed. Dec. 6 2006
Canadian Press
OTTAWA -- A Canadian refugee group says the United States is no longer a safe haven for people who need protection, accusing Washington of flouting international rules against torture.
In a report Wednesday, the Canadian Council for Refugees calls on the federal cabinet to pull the U.S. from its list of safe countries. Canada has struck a deal with the Americans known as the safe third-country agreement.
It means Canada can turn back potential refugees at the Canada-U.S. border on the basis they must pursue their claims in the U.S., the country where they first landed.
The report, however, says 2005 changes to American legislation have made it significantly more difficult for asylum-seekers to win protection.
Janet Dench, the refugee council's executive director, said there is also "damning evidence" the U.S. is routinely flouting the international Convention Against Torture.
"The situation in the United States is cause for very serious concern."
The report points to U.S. President George W. Bush's recent confirmation of the existence of CIA-run detention facilities for terrorism suspects.
"The secret nature of these facilities, combined with the testimony of detainees, make it likely that torture and inhuman and degrading treatment are part of both the conditions of detention and the interrogation practices," the report says.
It also underscores the case of Canadian Maher Arar, whom the U.S. sent to Syria where he was subsequently tortured.
The U.S. government maintains its immigration service was satisfied Arar would not be tortured, apparently because of an assurance from Syrian authorities.
The refugee council's report says Syria's reputation for human rights abuses was well-established at the time of Arar's deportation, and notes the U.S. State Department had cited credible evidence of torture by Syrian security forces.
A Canadian Immigration Department spokesman was not immediately available to comment on the report.
Source: www.ctv.ca/servlet/Arti...1206/20061206
Media release CCR : www.web.net/~ccr/release...afedec06.html
Canadian Press
OTTAWA -- A Canadian refugee group says the United States is no longer a safe haven for people who need protection, accusing Washington of flouting international rules against torture.
In a report Wednesday, the Canadian Council for Refugees calls on the federal cabinet to pull the U.S. from its list of safe countries. Canada has struck a deal with the Americans known as the safe third-country agreement.
It means Canada can turn back potential refugees at the Canada-U.S. border on the basis they must pursue their claims in the U.S., the country where they first landed.
The report, however, says 2005 changes to American legislation have made it significantly more difficult for asylum-seekers to win protection.
Janet Dench, the refugee council's executive director, said there is also "damning evidence" the U.S. is routinely flouting the international Convention Against Torture.
"The situation in the United States is cause for very serious concern."
The report points to U.S. President George W. Bush's recent confirmation of the existence of CIA-run detention facilities for terrorism suspects.
"The secret nature of these facilities, combined with the testimony of detainees, make it likely that torture and inhuman and degrading treatment are part of both the conditions of detention and the interrogation practices," the report says.
It also underscores the case of Canadian Maher Arar, whom the U.S. sent to Syria where he was subsequently tortured.
The U.S. government maintains its immigration service was satisfied Arar would not be tortured, apparently because of an assurance from Syrian authorities.
The refugee council's report says Syria's reputation for human rights abuses was well-established at the time of Arar's deportation, and notes the U.S. State Department had cited credible evidence of torture by Syrian security forces.
A Canadian Immigration Department spokesman was not immediately available to comment on the report.
Source: www.ctv.ca/servlet/Arti...1206/20061206
Media release CCR : www.web.net/~ccr/release...afedec06.html
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