Canadian Government Giving Payments to Afghan Civilians
Tue, 2008-03-25 07:23
#1
remind
Canadian Government Giving Payments to Afghan Civilians
Tue, 2008-03-25 07:23
#2
remind
First off, why are they doing this in the first place seems weird? Secondly, keeping the names and actions secret seem even weirder.
quote:
There have been at least eight instances in the last two years where the Canadian government has dipped into its pocket to compensate Afghan civilians or their families for accidental deaths or injuries.
New Democrat defence critic Dawn Black accused the Tories of trying to keep the truth from the public."They don't want Canadians to know what's happening in the war in Afghanistan," she said.
"In this case and others, they're to control the story and make it a sanitized version if what's happening."
A call to Justice Minister Rob Nicolson's office last week was not returned. Over a two-day period, justice officials were asked to respond to questions about ex-gratia payments, but the queries were eventually sent over to National Defence.
[url=http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2008/03/23/5082621-cp.html]The military said it wasn't able to respond. [/url]
Tue, 2008-03-25 07:48
#3
M. Spector
The reason they are doing this is that Canada signed a secret agreement with Afghanistan whereby civil claims for damages against Canada or its armed forces personnel are legally barred. This is the "waiver" of December 2005 that the article refers to.
Therefore aggrieved Afghans are left to the mercy and the conscience of Canada's New LiberaTory Coalition Government™ for [i]ex gratia[/i] compensation payments. Ironically, they are referred to as payments for "moral considerations".
As an armed forces spokesman said in July 2006 when the secret agreement became known:
quote:
It's a standard clause in these arrangements with other nations that we agree, in a gentleman's way, if damages are incurred in the course of operations that our country, Canada, won't have to pay for the damages.Both states agree that sometimes in order to conduct operations, sometimes property, land or crops and -- in the worst-case scenario -- people are damaged or hurt.
Tue, 2008-03-25 08:14
#4
remind
I do not understand this, if Afghan civlians are barred from civil claims, why then are the CPC paying out civil claims?
Tue, 2008-03-25 08:48
#5
M. Spector
Out of the goodness of their alleged hearts.
But seriously, it's to try to quell what must be widespread frustration and resentment by Afghan citizens who have been maimed, had family members gunned down, or had their homes and croplands destroyed by Canada's finest. Civil unrest would be embarrassing for Canada and the stooge government of Karzai.
Tue, 2008-03-25 09:11
#6
remind
quote:
Originally posted by M. Spector:
[b]...it's to try to quell what must be widespread frustration and resentment by Afghan citizens who have been maimed, had family members gunned down, or had their homes and croplands destroyed by Canada's finest.[/b]
The article mentioned less than 10 persons that had received this "good will" payouts, that is much like trying to put out a forest fire with an eye dropper full of water.
quote:
[b] Civil unrest would be embarrassing for Canada and the stooge government of Karzai.[/b]
Well, civil unrest is what is going on of course, only they are calling insurgency.