Canada Apologizes to Deportation Victim

Bellsouth News ^ | 1/26/07 | BETH DUFF-BROWN

[pitinkie]

TORONTO (AP) - The prime minister apologized Friday to a Syrian-born Canadian and said he would be compensated $8.9 million for Ottawa's role in his deportation by U.S. authorities to Damascus, where he was tortured and imprisoned for nearly a year.

He was exonerated in September after a two-year public inquiry led by Associate Chief Justice of Ontario Dennis O'Connor. It found that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police wrongly labeled Arar as an Islamic fundamentalist and passed misleading and inaccurate information to U.S. authorities, which very likely led to Arar's arrest and deportation.

The U.S. government insists it has reasons to keep him on its watchlists.

In February 2006, the U.S. District Court of Appeals dismissed Arar's lawsuit against U.S. government officials, ruling his deportation was protected on national security grounds. His attorneys with the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights filed an appeal in December.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, this month scolded Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for refusing to explain why the United States had sent a Canadian citizen to Syria.

In a recent letter to Day, Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff and Gonzales said U.S. files indicate the decision to keep Arar on watchlists is "appropriate."

"Our conclusion in this regard is supported by information developed by U.S. law enforcement agencies that is independent of that provided to us by Canada with regard to Mr. Arar," the letter said, adding that they wished to thank Canada for its cooperation in fighting terrorism.

Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., condemned the Bush administration for not removing Arar from the watchlists, saying he was "wronged in a terrible way by our government and by the government of Canada."

___

[fanfan]

Canada is doomed if most Canadians agree with their Prime Minister.

Don't be silly.

The majority of us hate this 'legal' decision, but he was suing for 37 million, and the government lawyers thought it was better (cheaper) to settle.

Part of the settlement was that the government had to apologise to him.

The government that screwed this up was our former Liberal government, and our current Conservative government had to issue the apology.

The former RCMP commissioner (who was in charge of the info. given to the US) has resigned as well.

[fanfan]

Release



Date: January 26, 2007



For release: Immediate



Prime Minister RELEASES LETTER OF APOLOGY to Maher Arar and his family AND announces completion of mediation process



OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today released the letter of apology he has sent to Maher Arar and his family for any role Canadian officials may have played in what happened to Mr. Arar, Monia Mazigh and their family in 2002 and 2003.



“Although the events leading up to this terrible ordeal happened under the previous government, our Government will do everything in its power to ensure that the issues raised by Commissioner O’Connor are addressed,” said the Prime Minister. “I sincerely hope that these actions will help Mr. Arar and his family begin a new and hopeful chapter in their lives.”



Canada’s New Government has accepted all 23 recommendations made in Commissioner O’Connor’s first report, and has already begun acting upon them. The Government has sent letters to both the Syrian and the U.S. governments formally objecting to the treatment of Mr. Arar. Ministers Day and MacKay have also expressed Canada’s concerns on this important issue to their American counterparts. Finally, Canada has removed Mr. Arar from Canadian lookout lists, and requested that the United States amend its own records accordingly.



The Prime Minister also announced that Canada’s New Government has successfully completed the mediation process with Mr. Arar, fulfilling another one of Commissioner O’Connor’s recommendations. This settlement, mutually agreed upon by all parties, ensures that Mr. Arar and his family will obtain fair compensation, in the amount of $10.5 million, plus legal costs, for the ordeal they have suffered.

[fanfan]

Only lackey court systems like Canada and the United States allow terrorists to sue and receive million of dollars from the countries they are trying to destroy. (sarcasm)

That wasn't sarcasm. It was a factual statement.

:-(

[WLR]

TORONTO (AP) - The prime minister apologized Friday to a Syrian-born Canadian and said he would be compensated $8.9 million for Ottawa's role in his deportation by U.S. authorities to Damascus, where he was tortured and imprisoned for nearly a year.

$8.9 million to who? the terrorists? ....

Give the Money to the families of Canadians Killed/injured/wounded in Service.

A Ranch to the Illegals who trespassed upon it.

Deputize the local Ranch Owners and buy them Razorwire

Border Patrolmen in jail for shooting a Narco Terrorist in the butt..

90 days at GunSite Marksmanship Correctional Institution with a promise never to miss again.

Teenage Boys, Young Men Fighting and causing trouble.

Mon=Army
Tues=Navy
Wed= AF
Thurs=Marines
etc

Hell, I should be a Judge!!! LOL


W


W

[Sam Gamgee]

Harper just lost my vote for paying off a terrorist. Canada didn't do anything wrong, yet we give 10 million so this Islamist can finance his 72 Brides Brigade.

I am sick to my stomach. This is worse than Gonzales sitting down to talk to terrorists.

[fanfan]

Sam,

Didn't you read my post?
Harper's hands were tied by the lawyers and our laws.

Aside from which this whole screw-up happened under the liberals....don't punish Harper for that!

Besides, who are you going to vote for instead?
Dion?

[Sam Gamgee]

Harper is a dhimni. Arar has no case at all. He was picked up in the US. Canada did nothing wrong at all. We even met with him in Syria and had him released. He should be thanking us.

Blaming the liberals is getting old and tired. This was not the issue to blame the liberals on.

I will probably vote for a conservative fringe party. One that doesn't try to pay off Quebec and terrorists.

[Sam Gamgee]

The RCMP commissioner should be given a medal for trying to keep the country safe.

[fanfan]

Harper is a dhimni. Arar has no case at all.

From the article:

He was exonerated in September after a two-year public inquiry led by Associate Chief Justice of Ontario Dennis O'Connor. It found that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police wrongly labeled Arar as an Islamic fundamentalist and passed misleading and inaccurate information to U.S. authorities, which very likely led to Arar's arrest and deportation.

Perhaps O'Connor is the Dhimmi.

[Peter Libra]

Even now as we speak, Arar will not let it go. It is estimated that he gets $29,000 for every day he spent in duress. A predominantly left wing blog, CounterPunch, has it's contributor, Arar, tells everyone about his cell.3feet X 7feet X 10 feet. Ten months under shocking conditions in that cell. Beatings and torture.

Arar has made the statement it will not give him his life back. I read he is a Sunni Muslim. Thus the pattern follows. Now I certainly believe he had been sorely abused and imprisoned. This pattern in the English speaking world is to vastly exaggerate any treatment that offends them.

Consider the outrage of the Imams on the aircraft that turfed them off. Consider the outrage in any like situation. Yes, CAIR is after Glen Beck (jovial somewhat conservative T/V show host).Now, in England ,the BBC and others are saying, that evem cold and severe glances at muslims by the public, will turn the young ones to extremism.

Their game plan is working. How nervous will be the official in future? I do not appreciate Steven Harper on this one.

[Peter Libra]

Your statement.

The RCMP commissioner should be given a medal for trying to keep the country safe.

I concur with your view. The scarcely concealed glee with which politicians and press, went after Commissioner Zaccardelli, was a national disgrace. I am no lover of authority myself. To see this man wincing and showing facial distress, grieved me. What these people who persecuted him - on a mere matter of a conflicting statement, do not realize is this.

It is the symbol of Canadian tradition that is thus diminished. We are all then given a blow in the face.

I use this post to clarify my last statement on Prime Minister Harper. I will still vote Conservative myself. I just felt that he could have toned down the apology to Arar. Sort of used a man to man approach. We as a nation thus have humbled ourselves to Arar.

We hardly did a thing to the man, ourselves

Now I feel better. (laughs)

[Sam Gamgee]

Like I'm going to believe some liberal judge in Ontario. O'Connor is bought and paid for.

[Sam Gamgee]

Zaccardelli is the Oliver North of Canada.

[Peter Libra]

Sam. Thanks for the heads up. Very late on this thread, but I just had to put out this. CBC T/V just put out their hateful propaganda. It appears that a customs official at a Canadian airport, had at first sight, reason to put Arar through a stringent check. This months before debacle mentioned. CBC seemed to infer the woman customs official pried into Arar's belongings. Thus further surmising she relayed information to the American authorities. Information which later was used against Arar when he landed in New York.

She now lives in Massachusetts. We were shown the usual suspects badgering the house where she lives. Banging on the door. This in collusion with Arar's lawyers. I knew that we are not done yet with Arar.

A large gentleman finally blew up at the pestering women T/V reporter. "Get out, do not ever come to this door again". (I cheered).

The arrogant devils are going after customs officers now. I hope America gives them the bums rush. Yep,American still stands fast on this man. He cannot land in the United States. They are going to move heaven and earth to get compensation for Arar. I just had to relay this news- for what it is worth.