Afghan commission to act as detainee watchdog (for Canada's Afghani prisoners)

[struggle4progress]

Updated Wed. Feb. 28 2007 7:44 PM ET

Canadian Press

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- The Kandahar office of Afghanistan's human rights commission has agreed to act as watchdog for detainees captured by Canadians to ensure that valid complaints of abuse are investigated, The Canadian Press has learned.

The secret agreement with military commanders papers over concerns raised by human rights groups about the practice of handing captured Taliban prisoners over to Afghan authorities who have a reputation for torture. It could also take some of the fire out of a burning debate over allegations that Canadian troops abused detainees last spring ...

Marc Raider, a spokesman for the Defence Department in Ottawa, confirmed the existence of the agreement and said it builds on a December 2005 technical arrangement signed between Afghanistan's defence minister and Canadian Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier ...

The agreement signed by Hillier recognized the Afghan human rights commission but did not set out a specific role for the agency. Last Friday's agreement changed that. Not only does Canada have to notify the International Committee of the Red Cross when it transfers a prisoner to Afghan custody, it now must also inform Noorzai's office ...

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070228/afghan_hr_070228/20070228?hub=Canada

[rodeodance]

1. good, lots of checks and balances in place.