Vancouver city council offers Dick Cheney “safe haven”, lawyer says

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      Through the lens of peace, lawyer Gail Davidson sees unambiguously how much Vancouver city council has changed.

      The cofounder of the international group Lawyers Against the War recalled that only eight years ago, in January 2003, Vancouver became the first city in Canada to oppose the war on Iraq. The city took this position due to the passing of a resolution by council, then dominated by the Coalition of Progressive Electors.

      The U.S. government, whose leaders at that time were president George W. Bush and vice president Dick Cheney, commenced the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

      Now, according to Davidson, municipal politicians don’t seem interested in maintaining Vancouver’s proud tradition as a “city of peace”.

      “The Vision-dominated council appears to be saying that Vancouver is now a safe haven for accused war criminals,” Davidson told the Straight in a phone interview on September 21. “That we will give them a warm welcome, and will actually act to ensure that the law isn’t enforced.”

      On September 20, Davidson wrote to Vision Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson and all the councillors belonging to his party, COPE, and the Non-Partisan Association about her concerns over the scheduled September 26 visit of Cheney to the city.

      She asked Robertson and each councillor to make public statements that Cheney, being “a person accused on reasonable grounds of torture and other war crimes and crimes against humanity”, is not welcome in Vancouver.

      Davidson also wanted them to acknowledge that Canada is duty-bound not to protect Cheney from prosecution. She likewise suggested that Robertson direct the police to arrest Cheney.

      As of the morning of September 21, Davidson had yet to hear from Robertson and any of the councillors.

      “When our politicians at the municipal level and up to the federal level are saying, ‘Oh, we’re not going to bother even answering your request, we’re going to shield these people from accountability,’ that’s alarming because it signals a very fundamental breakdown of the system that we rely on,” Davidson said.

      Robertson’s assistant Kevin Quinlan informed the Straight on September 20 that the mayor isn’t going to ask police chief Jim Chu to arrest Cheney.

      Comments

      14 Comments

      ejo

      Sep 21, 2011 at 6:01pm

      I have personally written the mayor and council - as well as the organizer of this event, stating that they are making us all complicit in Crimes Against Humanity by allowing this confessed criminal to walk free (actually we will be paying to protect him!).

      Neither the mayor or a single member of council has responded to date.

      I urge everyone to protest this visit Monday Sept. 26th at the 'Vancouver Club' 915 W. Hastings. And let's flood the police switchboard - if our mayor and council won't call the police to uphold the law, I will.

      Rick in Richmond

      Sep 21, 2011 at 6:19pm

      Mayor Moonbeam can't even arrest the Stanley Cup rioters. Does Gail imagine he'll arrest Cheney?

      First things first. In between backyard chicken coops, and front yard wheat fields, how about Mayor Moonbeam put a few (a few hundred would do nice) rioters in jail first? He is Chair of the Police Board, after all.

      Only then could he think about Cheney.

      Steffani Cameron

      Sep 21, 2011 at 7:17pm

      It's a little naive to think he would've been prevented from entering Vancouver, or even arrested. Scratch that: It's an entire galaxy of naivety.

      Opposing a war is one thing. Saying Dick Cheney's a "war criminal" when he's never been tried is a whole 'nother.

      I loathe the guy and yet I see it as unreasonable to have tossed about the idea of arresting him.

      Welcome to the western dichotomy, man.

      And who's behind Davidson and her attempts? One person does not a movement make. Nice try.

      That arrest warrant you're lookin' for is in aisle 7, next to pipe-dreams and unicorns. Good luck with that.

      Van Kevin

      Sep 21, 2011 at 8:54pm

      Well at least we can count on COPE peace types like Woodworth and Cadman to speak out. Cheney should be getting a welcome from Rob Ford not our bike riding mayor.

      Anton K.

      Sep 21, 2011 at 8:59pm

      How is justice served when a stoner is sent to prison for smoking whereas a war criminal is treated to a red carpet reward? Are the people of Vancouver going to stand proud behind this event in the annals of history? Or are we to identify with the Vichy occupation government? Rotten eggs and tomatoes is what this smells off, and some appear accustomed to the stench.

      Van Kevin

      Sep 21, 2011 at 9:48pm

      Steffani you might want to actually read something about this issue before commenting. Cheney and Bush and that whole gang of war criminals have been basically unable to travel to Europe. Because over there lawyers and governments seem to take war crimes and torture more seriously. It's pathetic that Canada is the only place Cheney can go.

      KiDDAA Magazine

      Sep 21, 2011 at 10:49pm

      A million Iraqis dead or homeless because of this. War often has many unpleasant side effects like dead people. Its only about the oil. Obama wont start any new wars like this, lets hope. The cowboy mentality of war and oil for profit are insane. Let him come no one will remember these people who started this insane war in a few years. China has taken over where America was not because they are smarter, only because they dont fight wars that have no reason. War is not cheap in any reality. Like most cities Vancouver caters to the old rich whites who are still as racist as the Texas two step.

      Rita

      Sep 21, 2011 at 10:59pm

      I agree with Hague. I agree with Jon Stewart in this matter. Americans pressure other countries to extradite and co-operate with them. When roles are reversed Americans do not extradite their own citizens to Hague to be tried for war crimes. Americans do not recognize international courts. As a Vancouverite and Canadian Citizen I consider our municipal politicians toothless with no balls to act in accordance of any legal requirements. Sad day for Vancouver!

      Ahmad Saeid

      Sep 21, 2011 at 11:40pm

      I guess war criminals of this size cannot be added to the lists of small-time war criminals that were recently deported: http://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/28/deported-or-arrested
      Cheney belongs in the Hague, Vancouver will be tarnished by his visit. And we need to remember is that there is no such thing as selective justice, or partial dignity. If we don't have them in completeness, then we don't have them at all! and that's one more thing that should be changed.