(The following article is from the October 16-31, 2009, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St., Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

People's Voice Editorial, Oct. 16-31, 2009

The courts have finally eased Canada's draconian "security certificates", thanks to years of persistent efforts by civil liberties advocates and the families and supporters of this inhumane law's victims. But the victory is still not quite complete. Four men remain under security certificates, which allow the government to jail or detain non-citizens indefinitely, without knowing the nature of their crimes. One is Mohamed Harkat, whose security certificate conditions have now been removed.

     On Sept. 24, a Federal Court decision removed all conditions on a fifth man, Adil Charkaoui. Days later, the certificate was tossed out completely when the federal spy agency declined to present any "evidence" that Charkaoui is an "al Qaeda agent." 

     To its shame, the Harper Tory government continues its grim struggle to preserve security certificates. They can't say why this appalling violation of civil rights is necessary; we're just supposed to trust them. But the Federal Court has found that disclosure of information in Charkaoui's secret file would not compromise national security. In other words, the only "evidence" is hearsay, some of it obtained under torture, which would never stand up in any court. Charkaoui himself is rightly demanding a full apology from the government.

     Police-state repression does nothing to protect Canadians. In fact, Canada's enthusiastic participation in George W. Bush's "war on terror" has only helped to inflame international tensions. Just as important, the removal of civil rights for some people in Canada threatens everyone's freedom.

     The time has come to "just say no" to the racist, undemocratic security certificate laws, and to bring Canadian troops home from the occupation of Afghanistan. Such actions would begin to remove a terrible stain on Canadian society.