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| Fifth Column |
| Anti-war letter angers Canadian soldiers -- urges desertion |
| 2007-06-13 |
| As families on Canadian Forces Base Valcartier prepare for the departure beginning next month of 2,300 soldiers to Afghanistan, antiwar groups have sent letters to soldiers' homes comparing Canada's military activities to war crimes and urging them to refuse deployment. The letters from a coalition of Quebec groups prompted angry reactions when they began arriving in mailboxes yesterday on the base outside Quebec City, home to the Royal 22nd Regiment, or Vandoos. "I read the headlines and threw it in the trash," said Master Corporal Pierre Calve, a father of three set to deploy to Afghanistan in August. "I believe in this mission. I have family here in Canada. This is a way to protect them, like our grandfathers did in the First and Second World Wars. It's not to go and kill people but to protect the peace." The mailing, addressed simply to the occupant of homes on and around the army base, was paid for by anti-war groups based in Quebec City, Montreal and Gatineau. "Canada's role in Afghanistan is a trap. It means on-the-ground Canadian soldiers become 'cannon fodder' for the illogical and unjust policies of generals and politicians," the letter reads. Participating in the mission equals "complicity with the civilian deaths and other activities -- like the transfer of prisoners to potential torture and death -- that are tantamount to war crimes," it says. Joseph Bergeron, spokesman for a group called Guerre a la Guerre (War Against War), said he is not concerned the harsh message might upset family members of personnel bound for Afghanistan. "Our letter is not what will traumatize people, but when they are over there and they see how many civilians die and [that] there are going to be many Canadians killed or injured, that is when the trauma will occur," Mr. Bergeron said. He said he recognizes there could be legal repercussions to the group's appeal to soldiers. The Criminal Code says that anyone who "attempts to incite or to induce a member of the Canadian Forces to commit a traitorous or mutinous act" is guilty of an indictable offence punishable by a prison term of up to 14 years. "We know that soldiers do not have the right to desert their company, and we could be accused of encouraging them to do that," Mr. Bergeron said. "Except, we believe we have a legitimate right to offer our opinion and information to soldiers. We don't think that is a crime. If they want to use repression against us, we will continue resisting because we oppose the government's policies." The mailing cites the example of Francisco Juarez, a Canadian Forces reservist who was fined $500 and discharged over his opposition to the Afghanistan mission. It also says U.S. soldiers "daily" resist orders to serve in Iraq. The coalition is also offering to provide legal counsel to soldiers who take up its offer. Major Daryl Morrell, a Forces spokesman, said Canadian soldiers can opt out of serving in Afghanistan if they have compelling family or personal circumstances. "We've got a whole lot of people who are chomping at the bit to go," he said. "If someone asks not to go, it's not hard to fill his position." Anne Marie Velasco, whose husband is stationed at Valcartier and whose brother-in-law is shipping out to Afghanistan this summer, was troubled to see the letter appear at her home yesterday. "It's not their business to tell us what to do," she said. "I don't like having a letter like that come into my house." She added that it was irresponsible of the peace groups to send a mass mailing that could easily be opened by the children of service people headed for Afghanistan. News of the letter drew a furious response on an Internet forum at army.ca. Under the heading, "Peaceniks Try Direct Mail on Vandoos Destined for AFG," one member suggested another use for the mailing. "I certainly hope the letters were written on a soft but absorbent paper, so they can be used by the soldiers for a function appropriate to the contents," a contributor named Colin P. wrote. The groups behind the letter are also planning a protest on June 22 to coincide with a support-our-troops parade in Quebec City. In a statement yesterday, the office of Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor encouraged Quebecers to pay tribute to soldiers by attending the parade. "Our men and women in uniform -- and their families -- are called on to make great sacrifices for Canada and they do so with honour and pride," the statement read. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #3 I hope that at some point, the society regains sanity and these POSes will be tarred and feathered as they deserve (I also hope for other festivities involving a knowledge of knots, but this would do for beginners). |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2007-06-13 21:35 |
| #2 Joseph Bergeron, spokesman for a group called Guerre a la Guerre (War Against War), said he is not concerned the harsh message might upset family members of personnel bound for Afghanistan. Right. That's because it's his war, (against the war) which is right and just, as opposed to our war, which is for the illogical and unjust policies of generals and politicians See how simple it is? He's right, and we're too stupid to understand. I'd send him a letter, but if I burned it in my fireplace, it'd be more useful. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2007-06-13 13:01 |
| #1 I say we send the peaceniks over first. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-06-13 12:36 |