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Dreamer128 · 12-08-2003, 08:25 AM

THE U.S. AND CANADA ON MAHER ARAR (Same source as article posted above)

On October 3, 2003, Alison Smith interviewed U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and Deputy Prime Minister John Manley about the case of Maher Arar.

Alison Smith: I also want to raise the case of Maher Arar because this also concerns refugees and how those people are handled, as well. He was stopped in New York City. He's a Canadian citizen as well as a Syrian citizen and is now in a Syrian jail with no charges against him in any of these countries. How do you assure Canadians who carry dual citizenship that that's not going to happen to them?

Tom Ridge: First of all, I think we need to dispel the notion that this was an arbitrary decision on the part of our government. There was sufficient information within the international intelligence community about this individual that we felt warranted his deportation back to one of – he had dual citizenship – of one of two countries. The decision was made, based on that information available through the global international intelligence community to effect that outcome.

Alison Smith: What do you think, Mr. Manley? Can you assure Canadians that it's not going to happen to them?

John Manley: As you know, there are some concerns that our government has in the case, particularly consular access, information about the process that was pursued. We are making very direct interventions with the Syrian government to have him returned to Canada. We're unaware of any information that justifies his detention there, and if there are some issues with respect to him, then they should be – he should be given the opportunity to answer them. That's our view. Again, occasionally things happen that could be handled differently, and the important thing is then to go back and say, well, what were the steps, what were the procedures, what processes were followed in this case, and how do we ensure that we operate in accordance with international principles in the future?

[ 12-08-2003, 08:26 AM: Message edited by: Dreamer128 ]

12-08-2003, 08:25 AM	#3
Dreamer128 Dracolisk Join Date: March 21, 2001 Location: Europe Age: 40 Posts: 6,136	THE U.S. AND CANADA ON MAHER ARAR (Same source as article posted above) On October 3, 2003, Alison Smith interviewed U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and Deputy Prime Minister John Manley about the case of Maher Arar. Alison Smith: I also want to raise the case of Maher Arar because this also concerns refugees and how those people are handled, as well. He was stopped in New York City. He's a Canadian citizen as well as a Syrian citizen and is now in a Syrian jail with no charges against him in any of these countries. How do you assure Canadians who carry dual citizenship that that's not going to happen to them? Tom Ridge: First of all, I think we need to dispel the notion that this was an arbitrary decision on the part of our government. There was sufficient information within the international intelligence community about this individual that we felt warranted his deportation back to one of – he had dual citizenship – of one of two countries. The decision was made, based on that information available through the global international intelligence community to effect that outcome. Alison Smith: What do you think, Mr. Manley? Can you assure Canadians that it's not going to happen to them? John Manley: As you know, there are some concerns that our government has in the case, particularly consular access, information about the process that was pursued. We are making very direct interventions with the Syrian government to have him returned to Canada. We're unaware of any information that justifies his detention there, and if there are some issues with respect to him, then they should be – he should be given the opportunity to answer them. That's our view. Again, occasionally things happen that could be handled differently, and the important thing is then to go back and say, well, what were the steps, what were the procedures, what processes were followed in this case, and how do we ensure that we operate in accordance with international principles in the future? [ 12-08-2003, 08:26 AM: Message edited by: Dreamer128 ]