China pledges that it won't execute Chinese-Canadian detainee

Related - Quote of the Week: Peter MacKay

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay suggested Monday that Canada had won a commitment from China not to execute a Chinese-Canadian - an assertion his spokesman later discounted.

Canada received assurances that China won't execute Huseyin Celil, who's being held on suspicion of terrorism, said MacKay.

"We've already received a guarantee that (China) would not pursue the death penalty," the minister said outside the House of Commons.

Mackay added that the guarantee was evidence Canada was making headway with the Chinese government.

"So already we've made incremental progress in protecting this individual. And we're going to continue to take steps to try to gain consular access for him."

However, a spokesman for MacKay later said Canada never received a direct assurance from China, but that the minister meant Beijing would live up to a commitment it made to Uzbekistan when it asked that Celil be sent to China.

"Canada considered China's assurance in September to the Uzbecks to be an international obligation and expects it to keep its obligations," said Dan Dugas.

"China assured Uzbekistan when it asked for him to be turned over that it would not execute him. (The minister) considers that an international obligation which China will be held to."

Celil was arrested in March while visiting relatives with his family in Uzbekistan and was later detained in China without access to his family or Canadian officials.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper pointedly spoke about Celil with Chinese President Hu Jintao while in Vietnam, where the two leaders were among 21 gathered for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit.

The lawyer for Celil's family says he has yet to speak in person with the imprisoned man, and news about the case has been difficult to get.

"So much of what we know is rumour and innuendo because China hasn't complied with its Vienna Convention obligations on consular affairs," Chris MacLeod said in an interview.

"All of this is murky and unclear. I want to know what he's been charged with and when the trial was and when he was convicted, on what evidence?"

China does not recognize Celil's Canadian citizenship.

While MacLeod had already been given to understand Celil faces a 15-year sentence in China, not the death penalty, the lawyer said he was interested to hear MacKay's comment about a guarantee.

"I think we take our small victories where we find them," said MacLeod.

"If China's saying they guarantee they won't execute him, I'd like a lot more than that, obviously. It's great he's alive but I'd like a guarantee he won't face cruel and unusual punishment while he's alive."

NDP Leader Jack Layton also questioned whether Celil was already facing a fate similar to that of Maher Arar, the Syrian-Canadian who was tortured in Syria after being deported by U.S. authorities.

"I think what all Canadians would like to see is the release of (Celil)," Layton said.

"Learning that he's not going to be put to death when we don't even know what the charges have been is, I suppose, comforting.

"But is he meeting the same fate as Maher Arar right now?"

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HOME Rouge States and the 9/11 Truth Terrorists 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	China pledges that it won't execute Chinese-Canadian detainee: MacKay TERRY PEDWELL - CP November 22, 2006 Related - Quote of the Week: Peter MacKay Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay suggested Monday that Canada had won a commitment from China not to execute a Chinese-Canadian - an assertion his spokesman later discounted. Canada received assurances that China won't execute Huseyin Celil, who's being held on suspicion of terrorism, said MacKay. "We've already received a guarantee that (China) would not pursue the death penalty," the minister said outside the House of Commons. Mackay added that the guarantee was evidence Canada was making headway with the Chinese government. "So already we've made incremental progress in protecting this individual. And we're going to continue to take steps to try to gain consular access for him." However, a spokesman for MacKay later said Canada never received a direct assurance from China, but that the minister meant Beijing would live up to a commitment it made to Uzbekistan when it asked that Celil be sent to China. "Canada considered China's assurance in September to the Uzbecks to be an international obligation and expects it to keep its obligations," said Dan Dugas. "China assured Uzbekistan when it asked for him to be turned over that it would not execute him. (The minister) considers that an international obligation which China will be held to." Celil was arrested in March while visiting relatives with his family in Uzbekistan and was later detained in China without access to his family or Canadian officials. Prime Minister Stephen Harper pointedly spoke about Celil with Chinese President Hu Jintao while in Vietnam, where the two leaders were among 21 gathered for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit. The lawyer for Celil's family says he has yet to speak in person with the imprisoned man, and news about the case has been difficult to get. "So much of what we know is rumour and innuendo because China hasn't complied with its Vienna Convention obligations on consular affairs," Chris MacLeod said in an interview. "All of this is murky and unclear. I want to know what he's been charged with and when the trial was and when he was convicted, on what evidence?" China does not recognize Celil's Canadian citizenship. While MacLeod had already been given to understand Celil faces a 15-year sentence in China, not the death penalty, the lawyer said he was interested to hear MacKay's comment about a guarantee. "I think we take our small victories where we find them," said MacLeod. "If China's saying they guarantee they won't execute him, I'd like a lot more than that, obviously. It's great he's alive but I'd like a guarantee he won't face cruel and unusual punishment while he's alive." NDP Leader Jack Layton also questioned whether Celil was already facing a fate similar to that of Maher Arar, the Syrian-Canadian who was tortured in Syria after being deported by U.S. authorities. "I think what all Canadians would like to see is the release of (Celil)," Layton said. "Learning that he's not going to be put to death when we don't even know what the charges have been is, I suppose, comforting. "But is he meeting the same fate as Maher Arar right now?" 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
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China pledges that it won't execute Chinese-Canadian detainee: MacKay