Last week I wrote a brief, tongue-in-cheek entry I titled "Rick Hillier -- War Criminal". Today comes news from CBC's The Current that two Canadian authorities on international law and the prosecution of war crimes, Payam Akhavan of McGill University and Errol Mendes of the University of Ottawa, are suggesting that the evidence presented by senior diplomat Richard Colvin last week requires at the very least an independent inquiry to determine if such crimes were committed by Canadians and thus if there is a need for prosecution of such crimes. Here is Professor Akhavan being interviewed by CBC Newsworld on this subject yesterday:
What both of these legal experts are concerned with is preservation of international law. They understand that the jobs of frontline soldiers are extremely difficult and both are clear that the responsibility does not lie here anyway, but with senior civilian and military officials who are alleged by Mr. Colvin to have approved such transfers with direct knowledge (from him) that abuse was a possibility if not a likelihood.
Nor must we wait for others to act. Canada has laws on the books regarding war crimes and crimes against humanity. As in international law, the standard is one of abetting, or knowingly handing over prisoners to likely abuse or torture. This is no longer about politics or ethics or reputation -- it is about enabling crimes against humanity.
Resign, Minister McKay.
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