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Revue de l'actualit� - News Digest 
16 juin 2016 - June 16th, 2016 
Editorial   

Monia Mazigh
CBSA: more powers and yet no accountability


ICLMG 16/06/2016 - The novelty here is twofold: 1. The data collection would happen each time someone leaves the Canadian territory. The same data collection has already been implemented at entry points. Now it applies to all entry and exit points. 2. The information sharing of these biographic data with the US has already been taking place but only for foreign nationals and permanent residents. This new legislation extends it to Canadian citizens. [...] Minister Goodale's reaction to concerns and fears about privacy is that this new data collection and information sharing will be done in accordance to both countries national privacy laws. But why should we trust this promise? Didn't we just learn about cases of information collection and sharing that transgressed our laws? And Maher Arar's case is still fresh in our legal history. How about implementing safeguards in information sharing? The Minister didn't say a word about that. Why should we wait for other abuses of the system to understand that these new powers need to be questioned and not always granted?

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L'AFSC: des pouvoirs suppl�mentaires mais toujours pas de m�canisme d'examen

Border Security Deal Between Canada And U.S. Reached, Will Come With $1 Billion Price Tag
Oversight of national security activities
Surveillance des activit�s de s�curit� nationale 

Security oversight committee is encouraging step, but accountability measures must be more robust

Open Media 16/06/2016 - Among the other potential shortcomings of this morning's announcement are: 1. The Committee will not be empowered to hear complaints from Canadians about the activities of security agencies. 2. The Committee will need to run its reports past the government, which will remove classified information. The determination of what constitutes "classified" information will be made by the government, running the risk of making the reports functionally useless. This also means the government can determine the timing of when reports are released, a key shortcoming of the UK model. 3. Information provided to the Committee can be restricted by the Minister of Public Safety 4. The Minister of Public Safety will also have the power to shut down Committee investigations if she or he believes they will be injurious to national security. 5. Committee members will need a high-level of security clearance, and will lose their parliamentary immunity if they choose to speak out. ICLMG adds that the plan to have the Prime Minister name the members of the Committee can hurt its credibility and the public's trust as they may appear to be too close to the government. UK NGOs heavily criticized that aspect of their country's parliamentary oversight committee and highlighted the fact that in Germany, parliamentarians choose the committee's members.

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Bill to create spy oversight committee introduced in Commons

Privacy czar expresses worries about Canada's spy agency invasiveness
Torture

Watchdog probing RCMP's response to Maher Arar torture case

The Canadian Press 15/06/2016 - The RCMP watchdog has launched a review of how well the Mounties learned the lessons of the Maher Arar torture affair. The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP will examine issues ranging from the sharing of sensitive information with foreign governments to the detention of Canadians in overseas prisons. It marks the review commission's first known foray into the RCMP's national security operations since legislative changes gave it new muscle to probe Mountie intelligence efforts. "The intent of the review is to foster public confidence in the RCMP's national security activities by providing an independent, external examination of an operational area that may not otherwise be subject to outside scrutiny," says a notice posted on the commission's website.

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Detainees Describe C.I.A. Torture in Declassified Transcripts

CIA medical staff gave specifications on how to torture post-9/11 detainees

CIA considered requesting advance immunity for enhanced interrogations

British complicity in torture still needs to be smoked out, for the victims' sake
Canadians detained abroad
Canadiens d�tenus � l'�tranger 

Our letter to Minister Stephane Dion about Homa Hoodfar

ICLMG 13/06/2016 - Dear Minister Dion, we are aware and appreciative that you and your parliamentary secretary, Mr. Omar Alghabra, are following the case very closely. Nevertheless, we strongly believe that following the case and monitoring it will not be enough to obtain the release of Dr. Homa Hoodfar. Unfortunately, we are concerned that since Dr. Homa Hoodfar is a dual-citizen, she is being used as a "bargaining chip" in negotiations with Canada on other cases and other issues. This is why Canada should speak at the very highest levels with Iranian officials and explicitly demand the release of Dr. Homa Hoodfar. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should be speaking with his Iranian counterpart and demanding the release of Dr. Homa Hoodfar while pushing for reestablishing the diplomatic relations between Canada and Iran.

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Ottawa must press Iran to release Canadian professor: Toronto Star Editorial
Scandale des d�tenus afghans  
Afghan detainee scandal 

Exclusif: L'ordre de �terroriser des d�tenus innocents� afghans d�nonc�

La Presse 15/06/2016 - � Ces citoyens incarc�r�s ill�galement ont subi les ordres donn�s par de hauts dirigeants de la Police militaire d'agresser � plusieurs reprises les personnes d�tenues. Imaginez-vous �tre captur� ill�galement par une force �trang�re dans votre propre pays, compl�tement d�sorient� � l'int�rieur d'une cellule quelconque. Au m�me moment, divers "exercices" dynamiques d'une extr�me intensit� se d�roulent tout autour de vous r�guli�rement. Par exemple, en pleine nuit, pr�s de 50 membres de la compagnie de police vous r�veillent spontan�ment, envahissant le centre de d�tention, ex�cutant ces "exercices" dans votre cellule. C'est pourtant bien tr�s exactement ce qui s'est pass�. Plusieurs policiers interrog�s confirment les ordres de hauts dirigeants de la police de "terroriser" les d�tenus. Ces t�moignages sont film�s audio/vid�o, � ont affirm� les signataires anonymes d'une lettre coup de point remise � la Presse.

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Trudeau can now get at war crimes truth
Reflections on the Orlando massacre
R�flexions sur le massacre � Orlando 

When It Comes to the Orlando Massacre, Domestic Violence is the Red Flag We Aren't Talking About

Democracy Now! 14/06/2016 - In a new article for Rolling Stone, journalist Soraya Chemaly writes, "The Washington Post reported Monday that 'although family members said [Omar] Mateen had expressed anger about homosexuality, the shooter had no record of previous hate crimes.' But that depends on how you categorize domestic violence." Mateen's ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, has come forward to describe how Mateen beat her and held her hostage. ThinkProgress reports that between 2009 and 2012, 40 percent of mass shootings started with a shooter targeting his girlfriend, wife or ex-wife. Last year alone, nearly a third of mass shooting deaths were related in some way to domestic violence.

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Chelsea E. Manning: We must not let the Orlando nightclub terror further strangle our civil liberties

How the FBI's pursue every lead policy allowed the Orlando shooting

Omar Mateen's interest in gay men makes this no ordinary act of terrorism

Did Islamic State claim credit for latest attacks too soon?

Democratic Gun Control Filibuster Leaves Advocates Skeptical: "We Could Be Asking for a Lot More"
Criminalization of dissent
Criminalisation de la dissidence 

No firing or demotion for cop who ordered G20 'kettling'

The Toronto Star 15/06/2016 - For three counts of misconduct under the province's Police Services Act for ordering two mass arrests - including the prolonged boxing-in at Queen and Spadina during a torrential downpour - Fenton will instead lose 30 vacation days and receive an official reprimand. As the veteran officer received hugs and handshakes from colleagues, those who say his actions that June 2010 weekend left them forever altered left disillusioned. "The process is ludicrous, absolutely ludicrous, and doesn't bring any closure to what happened, and certainly doesn't bring any justice," said Paul Cavalluzzo, a lawyer for some of the "kettling" complainants and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. "A reprimand for violating the Charter rights of hundreds of Canadians? That's absurd." Lawyers for the complainants will now consider whether to appeal Hamilton's sentencing decision to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission. Among the first things they will examine is Hamilton's own January 2015 decision that former Toronto police chief Bill Blair could not be compelled to testify at Fenton's disciplinary tribunal.

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Suppression of dissent
Supression de la dissidence 

Ethiopian forces 'killed 400 Oromo protesters'

BBC News 16/06/2016 - Ethiopian security forces killed more than 400 people in the recent wave of anti-government demonstrations, US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) says. In its most comprehensive report into the Oromo protests, HRW lists the names of more than 300 it says were killed. Protests were sparked by fears that a plan to expand the capital into Oromia region would displace Oromo farmers. [...] The HRW report is  based on interviews with more than 100 victims and witnesses and accuses the police and army of using excessive force, reports the BBC's Ethiopia correspondent Emmanuel Igunza. Some of those interviewed allege they were hung by their ankles and beaten while others described having electric shocks applied to their feet while in detention. Several women also claim to have been raped and sexually assaulted. HRW also says that tens of thousands of people were arrested and hundreds have disappeared.

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In Honor of Berta C�ceres, Rep. Hank Johnson Introduces Historic Bill to Stop U.S. Aid to Honduras
 
Autres nouvelles - More news
Access to information
Acc�s � l'information 
Anti-terror legislation
L�gislation antiterroriste 
CANSEC 
Guantanamo 
"Guerre au terrorisme"
"War on terror"
Islamophobie            
Islamophobia
Migrant and refugee rights 
Droits des migrants et des r�fugi�.es 
Privacy  
Vie priv�e 
State secrecy
Secret d'�tat

Surveillance 

Miscellaneous
Divers

CETTE SEMAINE / THIS WEEK
 


Free Homa Hoodfar -
1. Send a Letter to the Canadian Authorities
2. Send a Letter to the Irish Authorities
3. Send a Letter to the Iranian Authorities
4. Get Involved on Social Media
5. Change Your Profile Picture



House of Commons petition - Call upon the Government of Canada to urge Honduran authorities to:
1. Agree to an investigation into Ms. C�ceres' murder;
2. Fully implement IACHR precautionary measures for the C�ceres family and COPINH;
3. Demilitarize Lenca territory;
4. Cancel the Energy Development Company's (DESA) Agua Zarca hydroelectric project granted without the Lenca peoples' free, prior and informed consent;
5. Finally, we urge that an investigation take place into the Canadian government's role in Honduras during and since the 2009 coup.




Amnesty & CCR - 1. Take the Pledge! 2. Bust a Myth! 3. Tell your Member of Parliament your thoughts on refugee policy. 4. Lend a Hand! 5.  Mark World Refugee Day on June 20th!



ICLMG - Canada's numerous national security agencies - including CSEC, CSIS, the RCMP and CBSA - have inadequate or simply no oversight or review mechanisms. This has led to human rights violations such as the rendition to torture of Canadiancitizens Maher Arar,
Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad El-Maati and Muayyed Nurredin, among others. In 2006, Justice O'Connor concluded the Arar Commission with several recommendations to prevent such atrocities from happening again: Canadian national security agencies must be subjected to robust, integrated and comprehensive oversight and review. Years have passed and the federal government has yet to implement the recommendations.

Action   

Free Huseyin Celil   

Amnesty International - Huseyin has been in prison for 10 years after an unfair trial. Take action now to ensure that Huseyin is not subject to another 10 years of unfair treatment.


Action   

Let Khaled leave Egypt!  

Free Khaled Al-Qazzaz - Write to your MP to ask them to urge the Egyptian authorities to remove the travel ban on Canadian resident Khaled Al-Qazzaz so he can finally be free after being detained without charges for a year and a half and released since January 2015 but prevented from leaving the country.



Amnistie internationale - En juillet 2014, l'avocat sp�cialiste des droits humains Waleed Abu Al Khair a �t� condamn� � 15 ans d'emprisonnement apr�s des ann�es de harc�lement, d'arrestations, de menaces et de proc�s. Au travers de ses activit�s professionnelles, cet homme d�non�ait les atteintes aux droits humains en Arabie saoudite. Waleed Abu Al Khair repr�sente bon nombre de militants pacifiques, y compris son beau-fr�re Raif Badawi, blogueur emprisonn� et condamn� � 1 000 coups de fouet.



Les opinions exprim�es ne refl�tent pas n�cessairement les positions de la CSILC - The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the positions of ICLMG

What is the News Digest? Qu'est-ce que la Revue de l'actualit�?

The News Digest is ICLMG's weekly publication of news articles, events, calls to action and much more regarding national security, anti-terrorism, and civil liberties. The ICLMG is a national coalition of 43 Canadian civil society organizations that was established in the aftermath of the September, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
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La revue de l'actualit� est notre publication hebdomadaire de nouvelles, d'�v�nements, d'appels � l'action, et beaucoup plus, entourant la s�curit� nationale, la lutte au terrorisme, et les libert�s civiles. La CSILC est une coalition nationale de 43 organisations de la soci�t� civile canadienne qui a �t� cr��e suite aux attentats terroristes de septembre 2001 aux �tats-Unis.