Headlines for 2 June 2010

Israel attacks Gaza aid flotilla

Al-Jazeera reports that on Monday, Israeli forces attacked a flotilla of ships carrying medical supplies and other humanitarian aid items intended for Gaza. The flotilla was attempting to break the three-year blockade of Gaza imposed by Israel.

At least 9 people were killed and dozens injured when troops intercepted the convoy of ships, dubbed the Freedom Flotilla, in international waters. An Israeli military spokeswoman has stated: "This happened in waters outside of Israeli territory, but we have the right to defend ourselves."

The Israeli military said four soldiers had been wounded and claimed troops opened fire in self-defense.  Free Gaza Movement, the organisers of the flotilla, however, said the troops opened fire as soon as they stormed the convoy.  The Al-Jazeera correspondent on board a ship said that a white surrender flag was raised from the ship and there was no live fire coming from the passengers.

CBC reports that three Canadian activists were part of the flotilla, and were given the option of immediate deportation or detention at an Israeli prison facility.

 The United Nations Security Council is calling for an impartial and transparent investigation of the raid.

Abousfian Abdelrazik hired in defiance of UN's "terrorist" list

On May 18th, Canadian labour leaders announced at a press conference that they will hire Abousfian Abdelrazik in defiance of United Nations security council sanctions against him.

Adbelrazik, a Canadian citizen, was wrongfully detained and tortured in Sudan with the involvement of the Canadian government, and denied re-entry to Canada for almost six years.  It is illegal for anyone to hire Abdelrazik because he remains on a UN blacklist known as the 1267 list, which in addition to functioning as a no-fly list, also imposes a complete asset freeze on listed individuals. 

Hassan Yussuf of the Canadian Labour Congress stated:

We are taking this step in full consciousness that it could be deemed illegal. We are hoping that other unions and labour federations will join us in hiring Mr. Abdelrazik to document his story so that other Canadians can be made aware of the impact of the security agenda on innocent people.

Prison inmates lose old age benefits

CBC.ca reports that the federal government voted on Tuesday to strip old age income benefits from federal inmates.

Human Resources Minister Diane Finley tabled legislation that would end Old Age Security and guaranteed income supplement benefits currently going to federal inmates over the age of 65 and who are in prison for two years or more.  Finley said they are working with the provincial and territorial governments to also end benefits for inmates over 65 and incarcerated for more than 90 days in provincial prisons.

Renewed calls for RCMP civilian oversight agency

The federal NDP is renewing their calls for the creation of a civilian oversight body to oversee the RCMP.  British Columbia MP Nathan Cullen introduced a private member's bill last year proposing an independent oversight body, citing the in-custody death of Raymond Silverfox in 2008 as proof that police forces should not be investigating themselves.

Silverfox, a 43-year-old First Nations man from Carmacks, Yukon, died after he was kept in the Whitehorse RCMP detachment's drunk tank for about 13 hours on Dec. 2, 2008. A coroner's inquest heard that RCMP officers and detachment guards on duty that day did not seek medical attention for Silverfox during that time even though he was vomiting profusely in his cell.  Some officers and guards even mocked and jeered at Silverfox as he lay in a pool of his own vomit and feces, the inquest heard. He was eventually taken to hospital, where he died that evening.

Cullen said there has been little action taken on his private member's bill since it was introduced in November 2009.

Calgary MP advises Canadian troops to "pull the trigger"

CBC reports that an MP from Calgary is being criticized by his constituents for signing a card in support of Canadian troops with the handwritten message: "When in doubt, pull the trigger."

The card was placed in a lobby of the House of Commons on Monday and bears handwritten notes from politicians from all parties. Photos of the card and its messages from MPs were forwarded to CBC News by the Liberal Party.