MARSTON CALLS UPON CONSERVATIVES TO RECOGNIZE OMAR KHADR AS CHILD COMBATANT AND VICTIM

OTTAWA – MP Wayne Marston, (Hamilton East – Stoney Creek) and the NDP’s Critic on Human Rights presented a motion on March 11, 2008 before the Subcommittee on Human Rights drawing attention to the detention and prosecution of Omar Khadr with hopes that Canadian government would recognize him as a child combatant and petition the American government for his repatriation.

Mr. Khadr’s lawyer, U.S. Navy Lt. Commander William Kuebler, appeared before the House of Commons Subcommittee on April 29, 2008 where he appealed for Canada to save Mr. Khadr’s from a potential life sentence. "It's not a question of giving this young man a second chance. He has never had a first one. The only blessing he's had is being born in Canada and this country now represents his only hope," said Lt. Cmdr. Kuebler.

Kuebler also talked extensively about the rules set forth by the UN Optional Protocol on the Convention of the Rights of the Child. This Protocol clearly defines child combatants as victims, under the age of 18 years, who have been sent to fight. Canada was the first country to ratify the Protocol and has an obligation to abide by it. Unfortunately, it would appear as though the Conservative government does not believe it must uphold these international obligations.

“The fact that Omar Khadr's country has not given him the help that all Canadian citizens deserve is absolutely unacceptable” said Marston. “This boy was a child soldier, when he was shot in the back twice, almost executed, and then held as a prisoner at the age of 15. He has had to cope with what the American government calls, "enhanced interrogation techniques" at Guantanamo Bay, has been held with adult detainees for the past six years, and now faces life in prison,” said Wayne Marston.

At the time he was taken into custody, Omar Khadr was by all definitions a child soldier, and as such, Marston and the NDP believe the Canadian government has a responsibility to ensure that he receives a fair trial in his home country. Mr. Khadr has not received fair process or justice during his almost six year incarceration in Guantanamo Bay. This is especially obvious when all other combatants from other nations, being held in either Afghanistan detention centres or at Guantanamo Bay’s centre have been released to their home countries.

Marston wrote to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Bernier demanding the government defend this Canadian citizen, repatriate Omar Khadr, declare him to be a child combatant, and ultimately to bring him home.