Maher Arar thanks Zaccardelli for RCMP apology, now wants one from PM: Knowledge Driven Revolution

Maher Arar says he is disappointed in the federal government's continued refusal to apologize for the torture he suffered in a Syrian prison.

He spoke to RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli by telephone Friday, one day after the head Mountie offered a public apology for his force's role in the affair.

"I thanked him for apologizing publicly. I have no reason to believe it was not sincere," Arar said in a telephone news conference Friday from his home in British Columbia.

"But clearly it takes more than an apology. It takes serious action on his behalf, to hold those people who did this to me accountable."

He said he wants to see disciplinary steps taken against the RCMP agents who played a role in his deportation to a Syrian torture chamber.

He also wants the commissioner to get answers about why three other Arab-Canadian men were deported and held in foreign prisons.

Arar did not call for Zaccardelli's resignation, although he expressed frustration that the commissioner did not spring to his defence sooner.

What he wants first is an apology from the federal government.

"We are still anxiously awaiting an apology from the prime minister on behalf of the entire Canadian government," he said.

"It is extremely disappointing (that there has been none)."

In 2002, the Mounties handed U.S. and Canadian authorities faulty information about Arar linking him to al-Qaida terrorists, which led to his detention at JFK airport in New York City.

American authorities then deported him to Syria, where he was beaten, whipped, and jailed for a year in a cell barely bigger than a coffin.

The government has refused to apologize because it says that might drive up the cost of a financial settlement it intends to reach with Arar.

But Arar called the apology part of his healing process and insisted he would not use it in negotiations against the government: "It will not be a factor."

Arar says he also told Zaccardelli that he's disappointed nobody has been punished yet for what happened to him.

"They are sending the wrong message to Canadians," he said.

"The message they are sending so far is that people who do wrong, or commit serious mistakes, they get away with it."

Accountability is crucial to rebuilding trust in the RCMP, he said.

Zaccardelli told a Commons committee this week that he realized quickly after Arar's deportation that an innocent man had been arrested.

He said he alerted U.S. authorities, but never expressed similar concerns to the Canadian government to avoid getting them involved in a criminal investigation.

Read Today's Knowledge Driven News
HOME Canadians Should Pay NOT to be Poisoned: NDP V for Vendetta - R for Reality Canadian Bird Flu Pandemic Looming ? Shill of the Week: Stephan Harper Aspartame: The Sweetest Killer Chicken Little Terrorist of the Week: Creating Fake Terrorists Shill of the Week: Paul Martin The Number 1 Reason YOU became a Slave	Maher Arar thanks Zaccardelli for RCMP apology, now wants one from PM ALEXANDER PANETTA - CP October 02, 2006 Maher Arar says he is disappointed in the federal government's continued refusal to apologize for the torture he suffered in a Syrian prison. He spoke to RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli by telephone Friday, one day after the head Mountie offered a public apology for his force's role in the affair. "I thanked him for apologizing publicly. I have no reason to believe it was not sincere," Arar said in a telephone news conference Friday from his home in British Columbia. "But clearly it takes more than an apology. It takes serious action on his behalf, to hold those people who did this to me accountable." He said he wants to see disciplinary steps taken against the RCMP agents who played a role in his deportation to a Syrian torture chamber. He also wants the commissioner to get answers about why three other Arab-Canadian men were deported and held in foreign prisons. Arar did not call for Zaccardelli's resignation, although he expressed frustration that the commissioner did not spring to his defence sooner. What he wants first is an apology from the federal government. "We are still anxiously awaiting an apology from the prime minister on behalf of the entire Canadian government," he said. "It is extremely disappointing (that there has been none)." In 2002, the Mounties handed U.S. and Canadian authorities faulty information about Arar linking him to al-Qaida terrorists, which led to his detention at JFK airport in New York City. American authorities then deported him to Syria, where he was beaten, whipped, and jailed for a year in a cell barely bigger than a coffin. The government has refused to apologize because it says that might drive up the cost of a financial settlement it intends to reach with Arar. But Arar called the apology part of his healing process and insisted he would not use it in negotiations against the government: "It will not be a factor." Arar says he also told Zaccardelli that he's disappointed nobody has been punished yet for what happened to him. "They are sending the wrong message to Canadians," he said. "The message they are sending so far is that people who do wrong, or commit serious mistakes, they get away with it." Accountability is crucial to rebuilding trust in the RCMP, he said. Zaccardelli told a Commons committee this week that he realized quickly after Arar's deportation that an innocent man had been arrested. He said he alerted U.S. authorities, but never expressed similar concerns to the Canadian government to avoid getting them involved in a criminal investigation. Read the full article here Broken Link? If the link to the original article is broken or has been altered you can view the article by clicking here. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Features Archive
		What Is Wrong With Canada ? Recent 9-11 News Suppressed by the Media Aspartame: The Sweetest Killer The Number 1 Reason YOU became a Slave Knowledge Driven Look at Your Favourite Canadian Political Parties
		July August September 2006 27 28 29 30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Weekly Features 2006 2005 Read Today's Knowledge Driven News
		Counter
Copyright � 2005-6 KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com