LAW says Bush should be barred from Canada or Prosecuted
From Lawyers against the War: Please participate in this important initiative. LAW contact information is below.
Attention LAW members;
George W. Bush, former President of the United States of America (U.S.) and Commander in Chief of the Armed Force, is reported to be coming to Calgary Alberta on March 17, 2009 to speak at a private function. Evidence of Bush’s involvement in torture and other war crimes and crimes against humanity has triggered Canada’s legal duty to bar Bush from entering Canada and if he enters, to prosecute him for torture.
LAW has advised the Prime Minister of Canada, the Attorney General and the Ministers of Immigration, Public Safety and Foreign Affairs that George W. Bush is inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Section 35(1) (a) states that a foreign national is inadmissible on grounds of violating human or international rights or for committing an act outside Canada that constitutes an offence referred to in sections 4 to 7 of the Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes Act. Also inadmissiable (s.35 (1)(b)) are persons who are, or were, senior officials “in the service of a government that, in the opinion of the Minister, engages or has engaged in gross human rights violations…”
Under sections 4 to 7 of the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act:
“crimes against humanity” includes murder, enforced disappearance, deportation, imprisonment, torture, imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law, committed against any civilian population or any identifiable group. “war crime” includes wilfull killing, torture and inhuman treatment, unlawful confinement, willfully depriving a prisoner of war or other protected person of fair trial rights, intentionally launching that the attack will cause incidental loss of life or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects or widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment which would be clearly excessive in relation to the concrete and direct overall military advantage anticipated.
If there are reasonable grounds to believe a person has been complicit in any of these crimes, entry to Canada must be denied. The Supreme Court of Canada says reasonable grounds are “something more than suspicion but less than…proof on the balance of probabilities.”
Please:
a) let us know if you would like to add your signature to this letter; and,
b) distribute the letter and the request for endorsement to other groups and individuals. c) post the letter on your site.
Thanks.
Gail Davidson
Lawyers Against the War Tel: +1 604 738-0338 Fax: +1 604 736-1175 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.lawyersagainstthewar.org
