Guantanamo North: Bath, Ontario

I can't believe we live in a country that allows rapers, murderers, and child porn producers out of jail & into communities after a couple of years; we hold people from impoverished countries in our jails without charge. Canada has now violated the Geneva Conventions, and by default, no longer abide by this International Treaty. What happened?

Mohamed Harkat was indefinitely jailed more than three years ago on suspicion of being a foreign terrorist. His current conditions are less than ideal, but at least in the general population of his maximum security unit, he has company. The construction of the new facility in Bath, due for completion on March 31, will hold Security Certificates in isolation.

He still remains detained without charges. This transfer will simply replace one set of unacceptable circumstances for another. He will be 3 hours away from his family.

Since he hasn't been charged with anything, his lawyer thinks he should be allowed out on bail, at the very least.

This is shocking that the four Arab nationals are going to be placed behind the bars of maximum-security Millhaven even though they haven't been charged with a criminal offence and the basis of the Security Certificate has not been challenged. We have been criticized by the United Nations Committee on Arbitrary Detention for the length detentions to which the four men have been subjected to.

World on fire....More than one person can handle....

No Thanks Mr. Hawn

I finally received a response from my MP, your Hon. Laurie Hawn regarding "individuals" being held on Security Certificates. Here's what his office had to say:

Dear Ms. Bodo:

Re: Email inquiry dated February 22, 2006

We have researched your inquiry about a new facility in Kingston to house individuals being held on security Certificates. Although you may already have them, attached are several news items obtained from the Library of Parliament.

The facility is in response to a request by the Ontario Government and the location was selected by Corrections Canada.

There is always a balancing act when it comes to National Security and there will always be disagreement on each side of the issue. Our Government will take both National Security and Human Rights seriously and work hard to get the balance right.

Operational issues such as this would not come to a vote; even though the border issues could certainly be the subject of Parliamentary debate.

Although you will not agree with what is taking place, I want to thank you for expressing your concerns.

Your truly,
Laurie Hawn, MP
Edmonton Centre

Things that the media cleanses for me, so I think I may be ignorant

I literally force myself sometimes to think of the lives overseas in the Middle East. I can only reflect disgust that there are people out there that will destroy lives because, hey, poor people don't seem to really have lives. That assumption has taken place in what used to be the best country in the world.

I am occasionally surprised by some real people out there trying to making a difference when the odds are overwhelming. This time however, I believe my tears of hope go to seven Iraqi women that are going to speak to Americans about their experiences. The delegation will be speaking with Cindy Sheehan, member of Gold Star Families that have lost their children in Iraq.

These women from Iraq will be starting the Women Call For Peace Movement at great risk to themselves entering the United States. They will start in glorious New York City and travel the country. These experiences were granted to 7 women, but 3 visas were rejected because they have no family to return to in Iraq. Officials are urging Americans to contact their local State Department to let them on the Tour & let them in.

The Americans need to hear this. Period. They need to hear about the abuses too dire to mention on my blog. They need to take control. I predict Peace or impeachment is not far off for the 'President'. The abuses of Iraq, Katrina have carried on. Do I believe Canadians would be so complacent that Manitobans would not have received flood assistance due to us being at war? The Feds even called an election during the flood, and they still won.

Wandered off there, but I believe that these women can make a world of difference. Check it out:

Nadje Al-Ali is a writer researcher specializing in women in the Middle East. She is a founding member of Act Together: Women's Action on Iraq and mother of a 3-year-old daughter.

Faiza Al-Araji is a civil engineer, blogger afamilyinbaghdad.blogspot.com, religious Shia with a Sunni husband, and mother of three. After one son was recently held as a political prisoner by the Ministry of the Interior, the family fled to Jordan.

Souad Al-Jazairy is a writer, journalist and TV producer. Souad is a very active member in the Iraqi Women's League.

Eman Ahmad Khamas is a human rights advocate who has documented abuses by the US military in Iraq. She is a member of Women's Will, and is married with two daughters.

Dr. Entisar Mohammad Ariabi, a pharmacist at the Yarmook Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, has documented the deteriorating health system. She is married with five children.

Dr. Rashad Zidan, a pharmacist, works in Baghdad and Fallujah with the Women and Knowledge Society to aid victims of war, especially orphans.
Sureya Sayadi, a Kurdish woman born in Kirkuk, is an activist for human rights in the Middle East, particularly for the Kurdish people. She now lives in the United States, but her family is dispersed in Iraq, Iran and Turkey.