Let's help child soldiers in Africa, but we will torture and incarcerate our own child soldiers

From Congo to Guantanamo: Omar Khadr, the invisible child soldier | rabble.ca

Excerpt:

Of course this is great! But what about other child soldiers like
Omar Khadr, can't he be rehabilitated and sent to school as well? Or is
the child soldier status only reserved for those war-ravaged countries
where Americans have interests in keeping things safe and stable?

Unfortunately, according to the U.S. and Canadian governments, the
answer to my question seems to be an outrageous "No." Indeed, the
following sad fact has now been recorded by history: Omar Khadr is the
first convicted child soldier since World War II. His conviction came at
an end of a shameful military trial where not a single basic principle
of transparency and justice was followed and where the torture and abuse
Khadr endured was simply brushed away.

US Military Judge ≠ Reason

US Judge OKs confession extracted by threatening suspect with rape | Raw Story

In one of the first military commissions held under the Obama
administration, a US military judge has ruled that confessions obtained
by threatening the subject with rape are admissible in court.

The
case involves Omar Ahmed Khadr, a citizen of Canada who was apprehended
in Afghanistan when he was 15 years old and has remained in Guantanamo
Bay for the last seven years awaiting trial for terrorism and war
crimes.

...

Where do they get these judges?

Supreme Court declares that the Canadian Government clearly violated Charter and International Human Rights laws regarding the Omar Khadr case

But, they overturned the previous decision of the Federal Court that ordered the Harper government to request Khadr's return.

The Supreme court ruled against ordering the Canadian government to request that Omar Kadr be returned to Canada. But, they also declared that there is a clear breach of section 7 of the Charter, and that Canadian officials have violated their international human rights law obligations. It issued a “declaration” that stated clearly the actions of Canadian officials contributed to the continued detention of a young person who had no access to legal counsel, was subjected to “improper treatment” through sleep deprivation, likely aided his upcoming criminal prosecution, and violated principles of fundamental justice.
Court refuses to order Khadr home.

More on this news item:
http://lawiscool.com/2010/01/29/david-asper-centre-responds-to-prime-minister-of-canada-v-omar-khadr/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/a-chance-to-do-the-right-thing/article1452503/

Omar Khadr's plight part of Canada's scandal of war and torture

Omar Khadr's plight part of Canada's scandal of war and torture | rabble.ca

...
The Liberals, whose current leader was writing odes to the U.S. Empire in the early years of Khadr’s ordeal, have belatedly joined the NDP and Bloc Quebecois in calling for his return. Former Liberal Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham has said that he regrets his government’s inaction.

The Conservatives would seem to have no regrets, having ignored repeated Canadian Court orders to ask for the repatriation of their citizen. Maybe, like with the detainee scandal, Stephen Harper just thinks Canadians don’t care about what has happened to Omar Khadr.

It’s up to us to prove him wrong.

Stephen Harper offends a principle of fundamental justice

TheStar.com | SpecialSections | Harper must press U.S. to free Khadr from Gitmo, court rules

...Federal Court Justice James O'Reilly ruled toay that Ottawa must request that the "United States return Mr. Khadr to Canada as soon as practicable."

O'Reilly wrote that Canada's "ongoing refusal" to request that Khadr be sent home "offends a principle of fundamental justice" and violates his constitutional rights....

Amnesty International asks Harper to bring Khadr home

TheStar.com | Canada | Amnesty asks Harper to bring Khadr home < read full story

OTTAWA — Amnesty International has written an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper calling for the repatriation of Canadian Omar Khadr from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay.

"While the responsibility for closing Guantanamo Bay in a manner consistent with international human rights requirements rests with the U.S. administration, other countries should assist and cooperate in that effort," the letter states.

The human rights organization plans to deliver a petition signed by 50,000 Canadians to Harper today, asking the Conservative government to bring Khadr home.

The letter urges Harper to make three Guantanamo-related concerns a topic of discussion with U.S. President Barack Obama when he visits Ottawa Feb. 19 and to tell him that Canada is ready to participate in solving the problems.

"We urge that you immediately make a request to U.S. government officials for the repatriation of Omar Khadr to Canada, where his case will be dealt with under Canadian law in a manner that recognizes his status as a child soldier," the letter says.

Khadr was 15 years old when he was charged in the death of U.S. Sgt. Christopher Speer during a 2002 firefight in Afghanistan. He has been held at Guantanamo ever since.