Today's guest host was Avi Lewis.

Satire

It's Friday, April 27th.

Defence minister Gordon O'Connor now says that Canada has a new deal that allows officials to visit Afghan detainees whenever they want.

Currently, in preparation for the anticipated visits, detainees are tidying their cells, saving up rations for a feast, and cleaning their torture wounds so they'll look nice and shiny when the Canadians arrive.

This is The Current.

Afghanistan Detainees – Reporter

It has been a politically grueling week for defence Minister Gordon O'Connor. Day after day, opposition members have called for his resignation over the treatment of detainees in Afghanistan.

On Monday reports emerged saying as many as 30 Afghan prisoners - who had been in Canadian custody - were abused or tortured in Afghanistan jails. Then came the allegations that officials were being denied access to those detainees.

And then, suddenly, on Wednesday Gordon O'Connor announced he'd made a deal. Then yesterday, the government contradicted itself with the Public Safety Minister saying Canadian officials have had access for awhile. We heard from this Stockwell Day in Question Period.

Confused? You're not alone. Critics and Opposition members are demanding answers. We aired Jack Layton's response again from the floor of the Commons yesterday.

Much of the debate stems from the reporting by Graeme Smith in The Globe and Mail which detailed the allegations of abuse against detainees who were handed over to Afghan authorities.We reached Graeme Smith in Kandahar.

Afghanistan Detainees – Law

Much of the information about what happened to detainees after Canadians handed them over to Afghan authorities came to light after repeated access to information requests filed by University of Ottawa law professor, Amir Attaran. He has been closely monitoring Canada's role in the treatment of Afghan detainees and he joined us from our studio in Ottawa.

'Prisoner of War Handling, Detainees and Interrogation and Tactical Questioning in International Operations' - Dated August 1, 2004

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Listen to The Current: Part 1

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The Current: Part 2

Canada's Minister of Environment - John Baird

The plan is called 'Turning the Corner' but for some - the Conservatives new emissions plan could be veering Canada off course.

Despite the critics - Yesterday Environment Minister John Baird laid out a new set of goals and policies all aimed at reducing our greenhouse emissions. It includes everything from caps on industries that contribute to air pollution to more efficient lightbulbs to cutting emissions from the oil and gas sector. Minister Baird joined us in our Toronto studio.

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The Current: Part 3

Pink Tide - Gustavo Gorriti Feature

Much has been said, and written, about the so-called Pink or Leftist tide that has been sweeping Latin America. The election of President Hugo Chavez in Venezuela - back in 1998 was heralded as the first - in a series - of big political changes.

The initial domino effect included Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. But it didn't stop there... the election of left-leaning leaders in South America continues nearly a decade on most recently - Evo Morales in Bolivia and Rafael Correa in Ecuador. Even the return of the Sandinistas in Nicaragua.

But despite the appearance of a leftist revolution - my next guest suggests it may be less about fighting for the rights of the poor and more about political expediency.

Gustavo Gorriti is an award-winning investigative journalist and author who has more than once found himself at odds with governments and other powerful forces inside his native Peru and elsewhere in Latin America. He was even detained or "disappeared" by security forces under then Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori in April of 1992 and was only released after an international outcry demanding his freedom. Gustavo Gorriti joined us in our Toronto studio.

Music Bridge

Performer: The Sadies
CD: “Precious Moments”
Cut: CD17 “Clear a Path”
Label: Bloodshot Records
Spine #: BS 034

Last Word – Afghan Health

Now next week we will bring you the story of a Canadian doctor working at the Kandahar Airfield base in Afghanistan. But there are many Canadians based in Kandahar we wanted to leave you with some thoughts from Michael Bociurkiw from UNICEF Canada.

On March 27, five Afghan health workers were abducted on their way to the Zhari Dasht camp in southern Kandahar. It is home to fifty thousand internally displaced people. Those people have now been without medical care for a month. We ended the program with Michael Bociurkiw, talking about how the abduction has affected their access to healthcare.

Listen to The Current: Part 3

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