By William Miller

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

Asadullah Khalid Former governor of Kandahar is notorious for his human rights abuses. New evidence suggests Canada defended him and may have secured his tenure as governor (PHOTO: Canadian Press)

OTTAWA, Canada – An uncensored version of a memo which was confidentially shown to the Canadian Press suggests Asadullah Khalid,  the former governor of Kandahar, Afghanistan who was notorious human rights abuses, might have been removed from office two years earlier had Canada not intervened on his behalf. The memo is the latest revelation in the ongoing inquiry into allegations that Canada was complicit in the torture of Afghani detainees.The accusations of Canada’s complicity in torture began last month when former Ambassador Richard Colvin accused the Canadian government of ignoring his reports that Afghani Detainees where likely being tortured after transfer to the Afghanistan National Police. On December 9, General Walter J. Natynczyk confirmed that Canada was not only aware that at least one prisoner was tortured as early as 2006, but was also suspicious that prisoners were being tortured prior to this confirmation.

The memo, which was uncovered by the Canadian Press yesterday, now suggests that Canada was not only complicit in torture of afghan detainees, but actively defended Khalid on at least one occasion. The memo which was authored by former Ambassador Colvin reads “[a]s far as I know, Canada has never suggested to (President Hamid) Karzai that Asadullah be replaced…In the one meeting where the subject was discussed, in July 2006, it was the president who raised the issue; Canada defended the governor, thereby ensuring his continued tenure.”

Colvin also claims that the government not only largely ignored his concerns but asked him to stop putting them in writing.

This memo had been publicly released before but was heavily censored. In the original version every reference to Khalid was blacked out.

Khalid has a bleak record on human rights. According to the memo, it was well known in Kandahar that Khalid ran a private torture facility where he kept detainees handed over by the Canadian Military. In 2007, he displayed the battered remains of Taliban Leader Mullan Dedullah for the press and later refused to return the remains to Dedullah’s family for burial.

Khalid was transferred to Kabul and assigned to be the official in charge of tribal affairs in 2008. The Canadian government withdrew its support of Khalid in that same year, almost a year after Colvin’s memo. Defense Minister Peter Makay is denying the accusations and insisting that Canada did raise concerns about Khalid.

For more information, please see:

Canadian Press – Canada Did Raise Concerns About Afghan Governor Accused of Torture, Mackay Says – 14 December 2009

Canadian press – Canada Kept Feared Afghan Governor in Power Despite Rep as ‘Human-Rights Abuser’ – 14 December 2009

New York Times – Canadian General Now Acknowleges Risk to Afghan Detainees – 9 December 2009