CP: Diplomat-whistleblower says he faces government retaliation over Afghan issue

[tuvor]

OTTAWA — A lawyer for the whistle-blower in the Afghan detainee issue says Richard Colvin has a "reasonable belief" that the Conservative government is retaliating against him for his damaging torture testimony late last year.

Colvin's Toronto lawyer, Owen Rees, makes the accusation in a letter sent to the Military Police Complaints Commission today.

Rees says the government has essentially stopped paying Colvin's legal bills since he testified that senior government officials were aware that detainees captured by the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan were handed over to torture by Afghan authorities in 2006.

...

The lawyer says if Colvin has no legal counsel, he won't be able to testify further before the complaints commission.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jaEYSDAdMs1NDwiFhhw4RDh3aJnQ

[HeresyLives]

1. 'reasonable belief'....I'd say it's guaranteed.

Anyone that criticizes this govt becomes an automatic target.

[Spazito]

2. Contemptible, utterly contemptible...

but, given it is the harper cabal, not at all surprising. From what I read, Mr. Colvin is entitled to legal representation and I hope there is an uproar over this contemptible decision by the Cons.

From a CBC article on this:


"Mr. Colvin is entitled to legal representations as a federal civil servant who was summoned to testify about his work in Afghanistan. The government agreed to provide some funding for independent counsel after his original lawyer argued in the months prior to his testimony that the Justice Department could not represent parties on both sides of the dispute, given the risk of a conflict of interest.

But the Conservative government has not agreed to any additional funding despite the ongoing Military Police Complaints Commission investigation. Mr. Colvin's testimony before the committee led to public attacks on his credibility by Defence Minister Peter MacKay and former top military generals. Those attacks prompted Mr. Colvin to submit a 16-page letter to the MPCC in December defending himself and disputing their version of events."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/richard-colvin-faces-reprisal-for-detainee-testimony/article1443048/

[CHIMO]

3. Richard Colvin faces 'reprisal' for detainee testimony

The Canadian diplomat who charged that Ottawa turned a blind eye to his warnings about torture of Afghan prisoners now says he's being punished by the Harper government for speaking out.

Richard Colvin's lawyer talks of this "reprisal" in a letter released today that says Ottawa is ignoring his requests for further legal aid funding as he prepares to appear before an inquiry investigating the handling of Afghan prisoners.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/richard-colvin-faces-reprisal-for-detainee-testimony/article1443048/

Someone, not connected to a political party, should start a collection campaign for his lawyer.