“What we’re talking about here is not only hearsay, we’re talking about basing much of his evidence on what the Taliban have been specifically instructed to lie about if captured.” Defence Minister Peter MacKay, concerning Richard Colvin’s testimony, Nov. 19, 2009.
The following excerpts are from memos written by Canadian diplomat Richard Colvin and other Canadian government officials over an 18 month period from May 2006-October 2007:
“During the interviews, one detainee [section blacked out] claimed to having been “beaten with electrical cables while blindfolded” on one occasion during his [section blacked out] at the Kandahar NDS facility… We would be grateful for further guidance from Ottawa on the desired approach/tact we should take in this matter.” (Memo 278, p. 3)
“During NDS interrogation had been kept awake for [section blacked out] days and made to keep his hands raised above his head. He also used the words beat and torture. When asked to expand he said he was beaten badly but doesn’t know with what as his eyes were covered. When asked what was used he said a power cable or wire and pointed to his side and buttocks. By torture he meant having been locked in the NDS [section blacked out] and kept awake. (Memo 279, p. 3)
“[section blacked out] claimed to have been detained due to a tribal dispute – a rival tribe labelled him [section blacked out] and accused him of being a Taliban [section blacked out] He asked that we tell NDS not to beat the detainees, and to treat them like human beings rather than like animals.” (Memo 284, p. 4)
“He said he had been punched in the mouth for no apparent reason by one NDS official [section blacked out] ago (there was bleeding at the time). Furthermore, he reported that he was hit twice on the buttocks and upper thigh during an interrogation three days. … He said that he told the interrogator lies (i.e. that he is a Taliban commander) to avoid being beaten further because the interrogator did not believe the truth.” (Memo 284, p. 4)
“Of the [section blacked out] detainees we interviewed, [section blacked out] said [section blacked out] had been whipped with cables, shocked with electricity and/or otherwise “hurt” while in NDS custody in Kandahar. The period of alleged abuse lasted from between [section blacked out] and [section blacked out] days, and was carried out in [section blacked out] and [section blacked out] detainees still had [section blacked out] on [section blacked out] body; [section blacked out] seemed traumatized” (Memo 287, p. 1)
“When asked about his treatment (section deleted) he said he had a “very bad time. They hit us with cables and wires.” He said they shocked him with electricity. He showed us a number of scares on his legs, which he said were caused by the beating.” (Memo 287, p. 5)
“He said he was hit for (section deleted) days while in NDS custody (section deleted). It was a very dangerous place.” (Memo 287, p. 5)
“He, and others, told the [section blacked out] that three fellow detainees had had their “fingers cut and burned with a lighter” while in NDS detention. [section blacked out]. When we asked about his own treatment [section blacked out] he said that he was hit on his feet with a cable or “big wire” and forced to stand for two days, “that’s all.” He showed us a mark on the back of his ankle, which he said was from the cable. [Note: There was a dark red mark on his ankle.]” (Memo 287, p. 5)
