Diplomat's lawyer denies privileged info released in Afghan torture case

OTTAWA — Ottawa and the lawyer for diplomat-whistleblower Richard Colvin are locked in a war of words over the release of a letter that federal lawyers say contained privileged information.

Owen Rees, Colvin's Toronto-based attorney, filed a submission with the Military Police Complaints Commission on Friday that accuses Justice Department lawyers of failing to present all of the facts in the dispute.

The disagreement follows recent criticism of the federal government for holding back on paying the diplomat's legal bills, though the money eventually came through.

Last October, a letter was filed with the police commission, which is investigating what military cops knew or should have known about the alleged torture of prisoners in Afghan jails.

The letter, written by Colvin's former lawyer Lori Bokenfohr, suggested the federal government was trying to intimidate witnesses being interviewed by the police commission.

She quoted from a July 27, 2009, document sent to her client. The note from federal lawyers to all government witnesses stated their professional "reputations" could be on the line if they co-operated with commission interviewers who were described as "interrogators."

Government lawyers say the note was privileged and meant only for clients represented by the Justice Department.

Alain Prefontaine, the government's lead counsel, complained to the commission that in quoting from the document, Bokenfohr breached solicitor-client privilege. He said she had no authority to file it with the military watchdog agency.

Bokenfohr's intimidation complaints also ended up in public when the document was leaked to The Canadian Press.

Colvin's new attorney said in a submission Friday that the commission deserved to see the letter because it represents "an effort by the Government of Canada to discourage subjects and witnesses summoned by the Commission from participating in pre-hearing interviews."

Rees said it's "evidence of interference with the integrity" of the commission.

He also wrote that the government cherry-picked information to bolster its complaint, omitting key facts - such as Colvin notifying his supervisors at the Foreign Affairs Department that he intended to hire his own lawyer.

A copy of Rees' submission was obtained by The Canadian Press.

The police commission investigation is currently on hold, awaiting the federal government's appointment of a chairman. Public hearings into a complaint by two human-rights groups are expected to resume March 22.

The watchdog agency has fought a pitched battle with the federal government to investigate claims that the military should have known about possible torture.

Federal lawyers challenged the commission's jurisdiction in court and won a ruling that limits the agency's investigation.

Opposition parties accused the government of derailing the commission's investigation and decided to hold their own Parliamentary hearings.

It was before one of those meetings last November that Colvin testified he warned federal officials and military commanders about torture in Afghan jails, but was ignored.

Generals, senior federal officials and cabinet ministers denied the charges.

Colvin also claimed nearly all prisoners captured by Canadian troops in 2006 and 2007 were tortured by the Afghan intelligence service - something the government also disputed.

Source:AFP

Pak terror sanctuaries single greatest source of Afghan instability: Eikenberry

Washington, Jan.27 (ANI): Stressing on an immediate need to dismantle the terror sanctuaries in Pakistan, US Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry has said that until these terror hot beds are demolished, the US forces can not stabilise Afghanistan.


Buzz up!Eikenberry is also critical of President Barack Obama's decision to send more troops to Afghanistan, and believes that the troop surge would not help counter insurgency in the region.


"Pakistan will remain the single greatest source of Afghan instability so long as the border sanctuaries remain, and Pakistan views its strategic interests as best served by a weak neighbour," Eikenberry said in his memos to Secretary of States Hillary Clinton.

In his notes, that were written in last November explaining his opposition to the 'surge' of 30,000 US forces in Afghanistan, Eikenberry underlined that while the Pakistan Army has claimed success against the extremists in successive operations, the lasting result of the offensive was still unclear.

"Nor does the Pakistan military action address the role of the Quetta Shura, which has the most influence over the insurgency in southern Taliban strongholds, or the Haqqani network, the most lethal killer of allied troops and Afghan civilians," the former top US commander in Afghanistan said.

Until this sanctuary problem is fully addressed, the gains from sending additional forces may be fleeting, Eikenberry added. (ANI)

Source:news.oneindia.in/

Taliban claim downing 2nd US drone

ISLAMABAD (NNI) - Taliban on Tuesday claimed that they have shot down another US drone in the country’s North Waziristan tribal region.
It is the second US drone aircraft to have shot down in the same region during the last four days.
Tribesmen said that the second drone was shot down late Monday night and the wreckage fell in Afghan side of the border. The militants used anti-aircraft missiles from a mobile launcher to hit the unmanned aircraft, a tribal elder said by phone from Miranshah, the centre of North Waziristan.
Tribesmen Monday announced to gift a car to the tribesman who had shot down the US drone aircraft on January 23.

Source:nation.com.pk/

Backing for Afghan Taliban reintegration

Afghanistan has won regional support for a strategy of disarming Taliban rebels by providing money and jobs.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai expects a major decrease in the number of Taliban fighters, often poor farm labourers, if they are offered a good alternative source of income.

Mr Karzai hopes to win the support of Western nations for his new policy at a meeting in London on Thursday.

Countries including Pakistan, China, Iran and Turkey have already voiced their support for the new strategy of reintegration. They held talks with President Karzai in Turkey today.

Source:rnw.nl/