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Human Rights Groups to Urge Torture Prosecution of George W. Bush in Anticipation of October 20 Visit to Surrey, B.C.

September 28, 2011 –At a 10:30 a.m. news conference in Vancouver tomorrow, Canadian and U.S. human rights organizations will urge the Canadian Attorney General to open an investigation and prosecution of former U.S. President George W. Bush based on his individual and command responsibility under Canadian and international human rights law for torture of detainees in U.S. custody.

The groups will release a detailed and lengthy dossier setting forth the case against the former U.S. president, and a formal request that an investigation and prosecution be opened. More than 4,000 pages of supporting material setting forth the case against Bush will be submitted to the Attorney General by the groups. 

The action is being undertaken by the U.S.-based Center for Constitutional Rights (www.ccrjustice.org) and the Canadian Centre for International Justice (www.ccij.ca). Earlier this year, Bush cancelled a planned trip to Switzerland following CCR’s announcement that it would file criminal complaints in that country on behalf of two detainees who were tortured.

Bush is speaking at the Surrey Regional Economic Summit on October 20 at the invitation of Surrey Mayor Diane Watts, for a reported fee of $150,000. The call for his prosecution comes on the heels of former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney’s recent trip to Canada to promote his memoir at a $500-a-plate event. Despite calls for investigations of Cheney’s role in torture, to date no action has been taken by the Canadian government to investigate or prosecute him.

WHAT: News conference to announce a call for the torture prosecution of former U.S. President George W. Bush, who is travelling to Surrey, B.C. on October 20. (Note: This event will be conducted in English.)

WHEN: Thursday, 29 September 2011, 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Library Square Conference Centre
             350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC
             Alma VanDusen room

WHO: Matt Eisenbrandt, Legal Director of the Canadian Centre for International Justice

         Katherine Gallagher, Senior Staff Attorney for the Center for Constitutional Rights

NOTE: Also on Sept. 29, representatives of CCR and CCIJ, joined by Lawyers Against the War, will participate in an evening panel discussion about Bush’s responsibility for torture at UBC-Robson Square, 800 Robson Street, Room C180, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The Center for Constitutional Rights, in addition to filing the first cases representing men detained at Guantánamo has filed universal jurisdiction cases seeking accountability for torture by Bush administration officials in Germany, France and submitted expert opinions and other documentation to ongoing cases in Spain in collaboration with ECCHR. The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in the South, CCR is a non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change. Visit www.ccrjustice.org. Follow @theCCR.

The Canadian Centre for International Justice works with survivors of genocide, torture and other atrocities to seek redress and bring perpetrators to justice. The CCIJ seeks to ensure that individuals present in Canada who are accused of responsibility for serious human rights violations are held accountable and their victims recognized, supported and compensated. For more information visit www.ccij.ca

CONTACT:

In Canada: Matt Eisenbrandt, CCIJ, (604) 569-1778, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Djia Mambu, CCIJ, (613) 744-7667 x266, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

In U.S.: Emily Whitfield, CCR, (212) 614-6449, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  
David Lerner, Riptide Communications, (212) 260-5000, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it