(The following article is from the December 1-31, 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

Wiser heads among the ruling class want PM Stephen Harper to call a judicial enquiry into the latest accusations of Canada's role in the torture of prisoners in Afghanistan, in hopes of taking the issue off the front burner. But it appears so far that the Tories aim to brazen their way out by hurling slanders and abuse at diplomat Richard Colvin and the opposition parties.

     On the substance of the matter, there is no room for confusion. During his tenure at the Canadian embassy in Kabul, Colvin repeatedly warned about torture of local residents turned over to Afghan police and military units by Canadian troops. Colvin was thorough in his documentation, and careful to follow regular diplomatic procedures. His allegations are widely backed by all knowledgeable observers of the situation in Afghanistan. Rather than Taliban fighters, most of the Afghans who had the misfortune to be picked up by "our brave troops" were innocent taxi drivers or farmers, who then faced the "standard operating procedure" of Afghan authorities - from electrical shock torture to other forms of physical and sexual abuse.

     The actions of the Canadian Armed Forces are a blatant violation of international law. In short, Canada - and the Harper Tories who carried out a blundering cover-up - have committed grave war crimes.

     A judicial enquiry into this disaster would no doubt unearth more appalling details, making it more difficult for future governments to send the CAF abroad to help slaughter other peoples who become targets of U.S. imperialism and its allies. But more to the point, the politicians and generals at the top of the chain of command should face charges for their criminal actions. Stephen Harper, Peter MacKay, Rick Hillier: time to face the music.