Thursday, June 28, 2012

The Military Police Complaints Commission Final Report – MPCC 2008-042 – Concerning a complaint by Amnesty International Canada and British Columbia Civil Liberties Association in June 2008

Commission’s Final Report – MPCC 2008-042 – Concerning a complaint by Amnesty International Canada and British Columbia Civil Liberties Association in June 2008

National Defence Act – Part IV
FINAL REPORTFollowing a Public Interest Hearing
Pursuant to Subsection 250.38(1) of the National Defence ActWith Respect to a Complaint
Concerning the Conduct of Captain (N) (ret’d) Steven Moore,
Lieutenant-Colonel (ret’d) William H. Garrick, Major John Kirschner,
Major Bernie Hudson, Major Michel Zybala, Major Ron Gribble,
Chief Warrant Officer Barry Watson and Master Warrant Officer (ret’d) Jean-Yves Girard
File: MPCC 2008-042
Ottawa, June 27, 2012
Mr. Glenn M. Stannard, Chairperson
Mr. Roy Berlinquette, Commission Member

Table of Contents
3.1 The Commission Decision to Commence a Public Interest Investigation into the Transfer Complaint 13
3.2 The Commission Decision to Hold a Public Interest Hearing into the Transfer Complaint 17
3.3 Application for Judicial Review of the February 21, 2007 Complaint and Decision to Hold Public Interest Hearings 18
3.4 Failure to Investigate Complaint Filed June 12, 2008 by the Complainants. 19
3.5 The Commission’s September 30, 2008 Reasons Accepting Jurisdiction Over the June 12, 2008 Complaint 19
3.6 Attorney General of Canada’s Second Application for Judicial Review, in Respect of the June 12, 2008 AIC/BCCLA Complaint (October 30, 2008) 21
3.7 December 4, 2008 Procedural Overview.. 22
3.8 The BCCLA Application for Funding. 25
3.9 Stay Application. 27
3.10 Commencement of Hearings in May 2009 (Transfer and Failure to Investigate Complaints) 30
3.11 September 16, 2009 Federal Court Ruling on Jurisdiction. 32
3.12 October 7 and 14, 2009: Hearings, Motions and Indefinite Adjournment 35
3.12.1 Issues with Respect to Document Disclosure. 35
3.12.2 Commission Court Challenge to Section 38 Redactions. 40
3.12.3 Obstacles with Respect to Witnesses. 42
3.12.4 The Disruptive Impact of Section 38 Notices. 44
3.12.5 The Pre-Hearing Motions Scheduled in October 2009. 47
3.12.6 The Commission’s Decision to Adjourn (October 14, 2009) 49
3.13 December 10, 2009: Case Conference Convened to Set Schedule for Document Production. 51
3.14 Start of Hearings, March 24, 2010. 53
3.14.1 The Status of Document Production. 54
3.14.2 Interlocutory Motions. 54
3.14.3 Status of LCol (ret’d) Garrick. 55
3.14.4 Standard of Conduct 55
3.14.5 Means of Knowing. 57
3.15 April 6, 2010: Commencement of Substantive Hearings. 58
3.15.1 Continuity with Past Sittings of the Afghanistan Public Interest Hearings. 58
3.15.2 Status of Documentary Disclosure. 59
3.15.3 In Camera Proceedings. 59
3.16 April 20, 2010: Update on Document Production. 59
3.16.1 Evidence on the Document Production Process: Gagnon and Edwards Testimony. 68
3.16.2 DND Document Production Process. 68
3.16.3 DFAIT Document Production. 73
3.16.4 Issuance of the Gagnon Summons and a Return to Federal Court 78
3.16.4.1 Commission’s Process Upheld by Federal Court 81
12.1 General Information about the Risk of Detainee Torture in Afghanistan. 164
12.1.1 AIC/BCCLA Complaint Letter Regarding the Transfer of Detainees by Military Police in Afghanistan (February 21, 2007) 164
12.1.2 Independent Reports. 166
12.1.2.1 Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) Reports. 166
12.1.2.2 UN Reports. 170
12.1.2.3 US Department of State Country Reports. 175
12.1.2.4 DFAIT Reports. 179
12.1.2.5 Amnesty International Reports. 180
12.1.3 Newspaper Articles / Globe and Mail and La Presse Reports, April 2007. 182
12.1.4 Reports on Site Visits Post May 3, 2007. 185
12.1.5 Conclusion regarding General Information on the Risk of Mistreatment and Torture of Detainees in Afghanistan 191
12.2 The CEFCOM Information Environment 191
12.2.1 What is CEFCOM?. 192
12.2.2 Role of CEFCOM PM... 194
12.2.3 Information about Detainee Treatment Post-Transfer at CEFCOM... 198
12.2.4 Military Police Access to the Information about Detainee Treatment Post-Transfer at CEFCOM... 202
12.2.5 The Development of a New Transfer Regime and the Diminishment of the Military Police Role. 211
12.2.6 The CEFCOM Investigation into the Graeme Smith Globe & Mail Articles. 227
12.2.7 Investigation by the CEFCOM Provost Marshals into Post-Transfer Issues Between May 2007 and June 12, 2008 231
12.2.8 Conclusion with Respect to MP Knowledge at CEFCOM... 238
12.3 The Afghanistan Theatre. 239
12.3.1 ROTO 3 – MP Knowledge at the Detention Facility. 239
12.3.1.1 Evidence of Sgt Carol Utton. 239
12.3.1.2 Evidence of Capt Gillian Worsfold. 245
12.3.2 ROTOs 4 & 5 – MP Knowledge at the Detention Facility. 248
12.3.3 ROTO 3 – Task Force Headquarters. 254
12.3.4 ROTOs 4 & 5–Task Force Headquarters. 268
12.3.4.1 MGen Laroche. 268
12.3.4.2 BGen Juneau. 281
12.3.5 ROTO 3 – DFAIT in Afghanistan. 290
12.3.6 ROTOs 4 & 5 – DFAIT in Afghanistan. 296
12.3.6.1 Ed Jager, POLAD.. 296
12.3.6.2 John Davison, PRT Political Director 300
12.3.6.3 Nicholas Gosselin, Policy Officer, Human Rights. 302