Keeping a commitment for real peace made by Canada's new government.
Today Canada, after the poor ten years of the Conservative Government, especially in human rights, has the opportunity to retake its role as a positive influence in promoting full respect for human rights.
The European Union, as well as many UN bodies and other organisations have clearly demanded to stop any deals with Saudi Arabia that support their violations of Human rights in the region. Canada's selling weapons, ammunition, armoured vehicles, given the terrible record of the Saudi record, is a violation to our own Charter of Rights. Saudi's lack of respect for other peoples is pathetic and they have become one of the most aggressive GOVERNMENTS in promoting war and attacks to all peoples of the region. Their association with Turkey is one of the key factors in attempting to prolong war and divide Syria. WHERE IS STANDING CANADA ON THIS ISSUE?
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Canada's Prime Minister stated the interest in BECOMING a real factor for peace. An we accepted that as a positive challenge. Getting out of that war directly or by proxy (which is to provide Saudi Arabia of additional means to carry out war) is what we all expect.
Building peace is incompatible with promoting arms sales. The government and Minister S. Dion seem to be promoting "business" for more than $15 billions in weapons... That will only promote additional killing and destruction in the entire region.Please, stop the terrible massacre that has been imposed on the middle east people. The acceptance of syrian refugees is an important step... yet selling US15 billions on armoured vehicles like the one in the photo are a DIRECT form a promoting repression and war. Jose Venturelli MD
Globe and Mail, from Toronto indicates what are these armoured vehicles: This contradicts Justin Trudeau’s assertion during the federal election campaign that the deal brokered by the Canadian government was merely for what amount to “jeeps.”
It also puts more pressure on Mr. Trudeau’s Liberal government to explain why it is allowing the transaction to proceed – particularly after mass executions in Saudi Arabia on Jan. 2 that included a prominent Shia Muslim cleric.
Details about the turreted weapons have been slow to emerge because both General Dynamics Land Systems (Canada) and its Belgian supplier CMI Defence, part of CMI Groupe, are saying little about the contract and subcontract. "http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/armoured-vehicles-in-saudi-deal-will-pack-lethal-punch/article28046099/
http://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/no-business-in-abuse-call-on-justin-trudeau-to-halt-the-saudi-arms-deal
NO BUSINESS IN ABUSE: HALT THE SAUDI ARMS DEAL
AP
Amara Possian
PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU
This week, former Liberal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler renewed calls on the government of Canada to re-examine its $15 billion sale of armoured vehicles to the Saudi government, adding to the long list of groups, including the United Nations, calling on Canada to quash the deal over serious human rights concerns. [1]
Any deal that puts Canadian weapons in the hands of a government that commits grave violations of human rights should not go ahead. We're calling on you to halt the Saudi arms deal.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Saudi Arabia has one of the worst human rights record in the world, and is currently leading a nine-country coalition committing horrific violations against civilians in Yemen’s bloody civil war. The UN has accused Saudi Arabia of crimes against humanity for “widespread and systematic” attacks on civilians, including the relentless bombing of residential neighbourhoods, and treating entire cities as military targets.[2]
Thousands of innocent civilians have been killed, and millions more injured or displaced in what rights groups are calling a severe humanitarian crisis causing immense human suffering. [3]
Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper brokered this $15 billion arms deal to Saudi Arabia, despite widespread calls from civil society to drop it. Already it’s been found that Canadian-made combat vehicles have been used by Saudi Arabia to mobilize troops at its border with Yemen.[4]
Like 48% of Canadians, the new Liberal government has stated it does not approve of the $15-billion arms sale to the Saudi government. But the Liberals have also said that they won’t do anything to stop it -- even though it is completely within its power to do so. [5]
Canada should be taking a leadership role in the international arena, especially when it comes to respect for human rights and the protection of civilians in war. The Liberals have committed to “a new era” of Canadian foreign policy, but this arms deal falls in direct conflict with that goal.
Last week, European lawmakers passed a resolution "to launch an initiative aimed at imposing an EU arms embargo against Saudi Arabia" over its alleged war crimes in Yemen. We need Trudeau to do the same here in Canada. [6][7]
Sources
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