Rendered - Bashir Makhtal

READERS PLEASE NOTE:
I welcome your comments, but a man's life is at stake here; therefore I will not post anonymous and unsubstantiated negative statements.

Background

"Free Bashir" website

Please sign "Bring Bashir Home" PETITION

In biting winter cold a group of Canadians stood today outside the Ethiopian Embassy on Slater Street in Ottawa, Canada, protesting the rendering of Bashir Makhtal from Kenya to Ethiopia on January 21. His family and friends have since had no word of his location or wellbeing.

Said Makhtal (below) is worried about his cousin Bashir. He doesn't want to imagine the worst but believes that "anything" could happen.

It is not unreasonable to expect that Bashir could be subjected to the type of torture depicted below.

"Why did Bashir return to Somalia after living in Canada for so long?" I asked.

"Bashir had a good job in Canada," Said replied, "but it was not enough for him to be able to properly help his family back home." So Bashir returned to set up a business dealing in used clothing at a time when he felt things were reasonably stable in Somalia. But the threat of civil war was enough to make him decide to join his wife in Nairobi.

Unfortunately he was picked up with a lot of other people trying to cross the border into Kenya, and the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) allowed him to be transferred to Ethiopia, without any notice as required by international law to Canadian consular officials.

The Canadian government has registered formal disapproval of the rendition to a third country, but has otherwise not appeared to be trying very hard to find Makhtal. One might deduce a number of motives from this failure to act, but the fact remains, as the sign below says, all Canadians must enjoy equal protection.

It seems that the Canadian government has learned nothing from the case of Maher Arar. Nor can we boast of a superior judicial system if, like Ethiopia, we not only detain people without charges or trials on our own soil, but also fail to effectively advocate for our citizens in peril abroad.

If it were not for friends and family pressing the government to act, how much would have been done for any of these people who have been treated so unjustly by the "true North strong and free".

As the determined and spirited group moved on to the Parliament buildings, an icy blast ripped down the hill toward them, a little too reminiscent of the apparent coldness of the government's heart. As always, it's up to the caring public to ensure that justice is done for fellow Canadians in dire and unusual situations.

After spending some time on the Hill, the group made its way to the Kenyan Embassy to try to get its attention as well.

A permanent organization has now been formed to advocate on Bashir Makhtal's behalf. Please contact "Concerned Canadians for Mr. Bashir Makhta" to find out how you can participate. And please call or write your federal member of parliament to let the government know you care.

Update: Feb. 26 - News Item:
TorStar: Amnesty joins search for missing man
"It's just another dimension of several problems that keep cropping up at the consular level," said Dan McTeague, federal Liberal critic for consular affairs. "No one takes responsibility. These cases seem to have no ownership. Has Peter McKay picked up the phone and spoken to the Kenyan ambassador?"

Update: Feb. 18 - Letter:
From: "Friends of Bashir"
Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2007 12:12 AM
Subject: Re: Rendered Canadian Bashir Makhtal

We would like to thank yayacanada for keeping the rendered Canadian Mr. Bashir Makhtal's story alive, special thanks to Corinne Allan who was there at the demonstration on Feb 7 in Ottawa.

It's now a month since Bashir was rendered from Kenya to Ethiopia via Somalia. The government of Canada has not given a clear statement on his whereabouts, the only official statement is we are working on it.

We have no doubt Bashir is being held against his will inside Ethiopia and possibly tortured, It's a shame a Country like Canada cannot protect it's own citizens in a third world nation with very little regard on human rights and the rule of law.

We kindly ask yayacanada to continue to voice Bashir's case when ever it's possible because as Canadians we all deserve to be free, and when one of us is in a dire situation we must all speak out on his/her behalf.

Bashir Makhtal needs all of us, we must keep pressing the government to get it's act together and demand from the regime in Addis-Ababa to free Bashir Makhtal immediately.

Thank you.

YYC: No thanks is required. I'm only doing what all Canadians should do in a case like this, if we wish to continue to call ourselves a free country. I am very glad to receive this update.
As usual, the National Post has assisted in putting a sinister spin on things, and Stockwell Day has made vague assertions that Canadians are taking part in a "holy war" in Somalia alongside "Al Qaeda". Interestingly, no Canadians have been named and Bashir Makhtal has not been located, yet the Post says an American has gone home to face charges of terrorism and so have four Britons.
Shame on Stockwell Day for dealing in gossip and innuendo to cover a lack of gumption. How about bringing Makhtal home like the others and see if Day can come up with anything concrete against him, and if it can be made to stick in a proper Canadian court trial - instead of dragging his heels and spreading rumours.
If the family of Bashir Makhtal says he is a non-political business man, who is anyone to suggest otherwise without a fair hearing? After all, who is most likely to lie in these days of a fake "war on terrorism" - the government or the people?
Please consider signing the PETITION.