IN THE PRESS

Letter to Edmonton Journal regarding war crimes issue

Following is the text of a letter to the editor regarding the war crimes issue in Canada. It was published in the Edmonton Journal on Saturday, July 8.

The June 28 article "Growing number of war criminals turned away" advertises the recently released report of the justice department on the "war crimes" prosecutions and on the reaction of one group - the Canadian Jewish Congress.

Neither source is particularly instructive on the issue, especially not about the 17 "historical" trials of so-called Nazi war criminals.

In three of the seven cases heard to date, Justice Minister Anne McLellan's prosecutors actually dropped the war crimes accusations, making a complete farce of the proceedings.

As to the key element of proof, the reporter didn't bother to report that the Canadian Civil Liberties Association has questioned these trials on the basis that the prodedure should employ "a higher standard of proof than merely on a balance of probability," which has been the standard used throughout.

Neither the justice department nor the CJC will admit the obvious - these prosecutions are lobby-inspired show trials reflecting not the administration of justice, but its politicization.

Eugene Harasymiw
President
Alberta Ukrainian Self-Reliance League
Edmonton

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, October 8, 2000, No. 41, Vol. LXVIII

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