Wrangling over detainees eclipses soldiers' work: PM

Last Updated: Friday, May 11, 2007 | 12:12 PM ET

CBC News

Canadian soldiers' heroism in Afghanistan is not getting the attention it deserves as members of Parliament spar over the handling of detainees, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says.

Harper made the comment Friday morning while speaking to a crowd of about 1,000 soldiers and military families at a Wear Red Rally to show support for the troops at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, north of Ottawa.

Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor speaks Friday at a rally in support of troops held at CFB Petawawa, where Prime Minister Stephen Harper drew attention to the valour of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.
(CBC)

The prime minister noted that nine soldiers from the base have been awarded military honours in the past month for their work in Afghanistan, but blamed opposition parties for not drawing more attention to their achievements.

"Unfortunately, those soldiers' stories have been eclipsed by quarrels in the House of Commons with respect to allegations about detainees," said Harper, who joined Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor and Canada's chief of defence staff, Gen. Rick Hillier, at the rallies.

"I sincerely hope their story will come to light when the Governor General officially gives them their decorations."

The weekly rallies were created by Karen Boire and Lisa Miller, wives of two soldiers based at Petawawa, which has suffered the heaviest losses in Afghanistan of any Canadian military community during the last year.

The largest rally occurred in September 2006 in Ottawa, drawing more than 10,000 crimson-clad supporters to Parliament Hill.

"You in this community created this weekly national celebration," Harper said Friday. "You have a right to be proud."

Harper also took aim at political foes who have demanded a firm timetable for withdrawal from the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

"You also know that our work has not ended, that we cannot just put down our weapons and hope for peace, that we can't set arbitrary deadlines and hope for the best."

Detainees issue not going away, say critics

The government has come under fire daily in the House of Commons over the transfer of detainees to Afghan authorities, with opposition MPs repeatedly demanding O'Connor's resignation because he provided inaccurate information about who, if anyone, was monitoring the treatment.

During question period Friday, NDP defence critic Dawn Black again accused the government of misleading Canadians on the issue.

"We have been at the forefront of human rights issues and now we carry this shame," she said.

But government House leader Peter Van Loan dismissed Black's charge.

"We're proud of Canada's role in Afghanistan," he said.

Canadian soldiers are not accused of any wrongdoing, but allegations emerged last month that transferred prisoners faced torture and inhumane treatment in the hands of Afghan authorities.

The Conservatives initially insisted there was no evidence of torture and that former detainees who'd complained of ill-treatment were not to be believed.

Harper and his cabinet ministers accused opposition MPs who raised the issue of caring more about the Taliban than Canadian soldiers — even though no one suggested any involvement by Canadian troops.

The government was embarrassed when evidence subsequently emerged that it had in fact received — and allegedly tried to hide — warnings that torture is rife in Afghan prisons.

The government signed a new agreement with Afghanistan last week that sets out a new process for monitoring the treatment of detainees once they're handed over to Afghan officials. It came just before a Federal Court hearing was set to convene to determine whether to block the transfer of detainees.