The family of the deceased president calls for a public inquiry Le Devoir 17 Feb 2010
[Translation]
Hélène Buzzetti
While Ottawa ensures not dictate a pro-Israel at Rights & Democracy, letters and circulate petitions to bring to the defense of Palestinian groups now considered "doubtful" by the new administration of the organization. The family of the deceased president, she calls for a public inquiry.
Ottawa - Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said that his Government does not require international aid groups funded by Ottawa that they suppress any criticism of the State of Israel. If Rights and Democracy seems to have adopted this policy, it is a decision that rests entirely on the sovereignty of its board of directors, says the Minister.
The Chairman of the Board of Rights & Democracy Aurel Braun, pulled the plug three support groups engaged in the Middle East, he considers "terrorist related". These groups have criticized the state of Israel and its policy of segregation between Jews and Palestinians. As revealed yesterday, Le Devoir, Mr. Braun is a personal friend of Gerald Steinberg, an Israeli professor who equates to anti-Zionist discourse of anti-Semitism.
This position of Mr. Braun, who was appointed by Ottawa to clean at Rights & Democracy, it translates into a desire by the Conservative government? "No, no. I think not. There is no order(?)", said yesterday the Minister Lawrence Cannon told The Canadian Press. "We put boards in place. They consider the best of their ability what must be done and how. These are internal discussions on a topic or another, but not the contrary, there is absolutely no mandate that stops people from talking. "
The 47 employees of Rights & Democracy signed a letter calling for the resignation of Aurel Braun, also former leader of B'nai Brith, an organization campaigning for the Israeli cause. Mr. Braun was able to retain when Ottawa has filled the vacancies on the board with people he was friendly.
The lead counsel of B'nai Brith, David Matas, is of that lot. In a document entitled "Israel and the Palestinians, myths and realities", he writes that the Law of Return Israel, allowing the immigration of all Jews in the world, is not discriminatory. "It is impossible for a law to be racist if anyone can choose, by converting to Judaism, may rely." He opposed a law symmetrical return of the Palestinians because it would to drown the Jewish majority. "" The right of return of Palestinian people "is now what the" final solution to the Jewish problem "was at the time of Hitler's words to mask the goal or the denial of the right of the people Jews have a national identity in its historical territory. "
Meanwhile, brothers and sister Remy Beauregard, President of Rights & Democracy died in January following a meeting "rough" board of directors, calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper a public inquiry. "What is most disturbing is the psychological harassment that was being our brother by the Board of Directors, they write. The appointment as interim President Jacques Gauthier, involved in this case is a further insult to the memory of our brother. "
In defense groups "doubtful"
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, yesterday denounced the "ideological intervention" by the government to try to "steer" the choice of partners of Rights & Democracy. Himself a former professor of human rights at Harvard University, Mr. Ignatieff knows Bt'selem, one of three groups whose funding has been abolished by President Aurel Braun. "This is an Israeli organization that does justice to Israel because it deals with the rights of all people in the Middle East."
More and more groups are doing elsewhere in the defense agencies deemed "doubtful" by the new leadership of Rights and Democracy. A petition in favor of al Haq et al Mazan has already been signed by about fifty groups of Israeli and Palestinian human rights.
"[...] We are stunned to see that rather than helping and stand in defense of human rights defenders, those who denounce Israeli violations of human rights and ensure respect for international law The Board of Directors of Rights & Democracy has sided with the offenders, "it is written. The petition said that Israel prevents Palestinian rights workers from traveling. "If Israel violates their rights, Rights & Democracy seeks also to undermine their legitimacy by using the same rhetoric."
The International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), a coalition of 155 organizations in 100 countries including the League of Rights and Freedoms in Quebec, for its advocates, in an open letter, al Haq and Bt'selem. These groups "are FIDH member for several years and FIDH guarantee their professionalism."
