By Brittney Hodnik
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America
OTTAWA, Canada – Not only Canada but other countries are looking into the prospect of indicting former U.S. Vice President, Dick Cheney, for war crimes. Thousands, maybe even millions of people around the world believe that Cheney’s use of water boarding and other harsh interrogation tactics constitute torture and other war crimes.
According to the Vancouver Observer, Human Rights Watch said that Canada should prepare itself to investigate Cheney for violating the United Nations Convention Against Torture. This convention clearly lays out what constitutes torture, the possibility of criminal sanctions, and other consequences of violation. All U.N. recognized nations have ratified this Convention Against Torture except Bahrain and Yemen.
The United States has not brought any charges against Cheney at this point. As soon as he leaves the country, (for example, to promote his new memoir in Vancouver, Canada) he opens himself up to possible prosecution. Activist group, Stop War, asked in a press release earlier this week for Vancouver natives to speak out against Cheney’s appearance, reported the Vancouver Observer.
“We owe it to the victim’s of war and torture in Iraq, Afghanistan and beyond to have a strong showing of opposition to this event featuring this war criminal,” Stop War said.
Canada in particular has jurisdiction over such prosecution. According to a statement on the Human Rights Watch website, a country has jurisdiction over an individual for torture if the complainant is a Canadian citizen, even if the acts were committed outside of the country. Cheney’s interrogation tactics affected at least two Canadian citizens.
Dick Cheney is unapologetic about his war tactics, maintaining his opinion that water boarding does not constitute torture, but rather it is merely “an enhanced interrogation technique” according to The Globe and Mail. He says the practices were legal and were approved by the Justice Department. President Obama has since banned the practice.
The Globe and Mail reported that a rowdy group of protestors gathered outside of Cheney’s book appearance in Vancouver; some calling for his arrest while others wanted him barred from Canada. Shouts from the crowd included, “Detain Dick” and “Don’t harbor war criminals,” reported CTV News.
Kate Dyson, a student at the University of Alberta described Cheney as “a self-confessed war criminal, torturer,” according to CTV News. Additionally, anti-war activist Thomas Poulsen said that he was disappointed that Cheney was not arrested.
Cheney continues to defend his use of water boarding and claims he would do it again if faced with the same situation. Cheney can avoid arrest internationally, simply by staying in the United States. Although he was not arrested in Canada this past week, support for his prosecution is growing rapidly.
For more information, please visit:
CTV News — Protestors in Calgary Want Dick Cheney Arrested — 27 Sept. 2011
The Globe and Mail — Dick Cheney, Unapologetic, Defies Vancouver Protestors — 26 Sept. 2011
The Vancouver Observer — Movement to Arrest Dick Cheney for War Crimes Grows — 24 Sept. 2011
CNN — Cheney and Justice for Torture Victims — 23 Sept. 2011
The United Nations Convention Against Torture
