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What's So Funny About Rights & Democracy?
by C. L. Cook
The Harper government's antipathy to Israel's opponents has erupted within one of the nation's human rights funding and watchdog agencies. Rights and Democracy was created by Brian Mulroney's Conservative government in 1988, and was meant to operate as an "arm's length" agency.
by C. L. Cook
The Harper government's antipathy to Israel's opponents has erupted within one of the nation's human rights funding and watchdog agencies. Rights and Democracy was created by Brian Mulroney's Conservative government in 1988, and was meant to operate as an "arm's length" agency. Chairman Braun
It is in the news now due to the fractious arrival of Johnny-come-lately Harper appointees, who have taken over the board, attacked the agency's record, most especially its gifting of grants to Palestinian human rights organizations, and its support of the Israeli human rights group, B'Tselem.
The prime minister, a fervent supporter of Israel who went so far as to criticize Lebanese-Canadians caught beneath Israel's 2006 invasion of Lebanon for their imprudent holiday choice, while some in his party questioned the legitimacy of their citizenship, has yet to make a public comment on the fiasco at the agency, but minister of foreign affairs, Lawrence Cannon did weigh in, saying;
"Obviously, there seems to be a governance structure problem here, and so I'll be looking at that."
The prime minister, a fervent supporter of Israel who went so far as to criticize Lebanese-Canadians caught beneath Israel's 2006 invasion of Lebanon for their imprudent holiday choice, while some in his party questioned the legitimacy of their citizenship, has yet to make a public comment on the fiasco at the agency, but minister of foreign affairs, Lawrence Cannon did weigh in, saying;
"Obviously, there seems to be a governance structure problem here, and so I'll be looking at that."
[UPDATE: The CBC reports tonight (March 2, 2010) three of the 47 plaintive employees at R&D have been fired.]
Last week, a letter with the names of all 47 staff members of Rights and Democracy demanded the resignation of the new appointed head of the board, University of Toronto political science professor, Aurel Braun. Braun declared the petition invalid when, according to him, one of the 47 listed signatories denied participation.
For his part, Braun blasted the agency's support of Palestinian human rights groups, saying they were part of a conspiracy to "dehumanize" Israel. Braun is also an outspoken critic of the Goldstone Report for the United Nations on the Israeli invasion of Gaza in late 2008, and says the Palestinian organizations supported by Rights and Democracy are;
"[T]oxic organizations that are at the forefront of demonizing and dehumanizing Israel."
In their letter demanding Braun and two of his colleagues stand down immediately, the staff cited the overt politicization of the agency, adding;
""You have lost the confidence of the employees of Rights and Democracy and we unanimously request your immediate resignation."
Canadian Press (CP) report dozens of human rights groups and organizations called Braun's attacks against B'Tselem and the Palestinian groups, Al Haq, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, and Gaza's Al Mezan a "smear campaign," and accuse Braun of attempting to gag agency reports. Whether it is just reports critical of Israel, and not others too he would suppress is unclear.
Last month, the former president of Rights & Democracy, Remy Beauregard, a target of Braun and his associates since their installation, died of a heart attack just hours after a "stormy" board meeting. Beauregard's widow says she believes Braun and his associates where indirectly responsible for her husband's premature death.
Last week, a letter with the names of all 47 staff members of Rights and Democracy demanded the resignation of the new appointed head of the board, University of Toronto political science professor, Aurel Braun. Braun declared the petition invalid when, according to him, one of the 47 listed signatories denied participation.
For his part, Braun blasted the agency's support of Palestinian human rights groups, saying they were part of a conspiracy to "dehumanize" Israel. Braun is also an outspoken critic of the Goldstone Report for the United Nations on the Israeli invasion of Gaza in late 2008, and says the Palestinian organizations supported by Rights and Democracy are;
"[T]oxic organizations that are at the forefront of demonizing and dehumanizing Israel."
In their letter demanding Braun and two of his colleagues stand down immediately, the staff cited the overt politicization of the agency, adding;
""You have lost the confidence of the employees of Rights and Democracy and we unanimously request your immediate resignation."
Canadian Press (CP) report dozens of human rights groups and organizations called Braun's attacks against B'Tselem and the Palestinian groups, Al Haq, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, and Gaza's Al Mezan a "smear campaign," and accuse Braun of attempting to gag agency reports. Whether it is just reports critical of Israel, and not others too he would suppress is unclear.
Last month, the former president of Rights & Democracy, Remy Beauregard, a target of Braun and his associates since their installation, died of a heart attack just hours after a "stormy" board meeting. Beauregard's widow says she believes Braun and his associates where indirectly responsible for her husband's premature death.
It has now been learned, Beauregard's offices were burgled following his heart attack and computers detailing Rights & Democracy business stolen. A private Montreal investigation firm has been brought in to study surveillance pictures of the burgled offices.
Meanwhile, the Montreal Gazette is reporting, chairman Braun and his ally, interim president Jacques Gauthier, have suspended three senior associates without pay, pending "internal investigations" of their conduct. The three all signed the letter demanding the resignation of the chairman and interim president.
Meanwhile, the Montreal Gazette is reporting, chairman Braun and his ally, interim president Jacques Gauthier, have suspended three senior associates without pay, pending "internal investigations" of their conduct. The three all signed the letter demanding the resignation of the chairman and interim president.
Ed Broadbent, a former chairman of the board of Rights & Democracy, originally known as the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development (ICHRDD), and former national leader of the New Democratic party (NDP) called criticism of the grants "ludicrous," lambasting Braun, saying;
"This is another example of another independent agency having their independence either totally ignored or squashed or interfered with. [...] This is extraordinarily serious in terms of Canadian democracy."
Sources:
Paul Wells - Macleans - http://www2.macleans.ca/tag/aurel-braun/
U. of T. bio - http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/~w3pol/faculty_braun.htm
Braun Gag -
http://drdawgsblawg.blogspot.com/2010/01/rights-and-democracy-aurel-braun-gags.html
The Star on...
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/article/756761--harper-remains-silent-on-rights-agency-fiasco#article
Braun fights back
http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Rights+centre+chairman+rebukes+critics+smears/2519867/story.html
Mondowiess
http://mondoweiss.net/2010/02/canadian-official-threatens-to-cut-off-btselems-funding.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feedburner%2FWDBc+%28Mondoweiss%29
Ed Broadbent:
"I do not recall, in my long public life, such an unwarranted assault on a senior public servant, none, and I don't recall a sequence of events where you had such a total undermining of a PMO appointee being treated so shabbily and dying in the middle of it. Without drawing a direct parallel, I can think of only one incident, Herbert Norman, our envoy to Egypt, a friend of Lester B. Pearson, committing suicide [in 1957, after having been accused of being a Communist sympathizer]. That was the McCarthy era."
From the Rights & Democracy website:
Rights & Democracy is a non-partisan, independent Canadian institution created by an Act of Parliament in 1988 to promote democratic development and to advocate for and defend human rights set out in the International Bill of Human Rights. In cooperation with civil society and governments in Canada and abroad, Rights & Democracy initiates and supports programmes to strengthen laws and democratic institutions, principally in developing countries.
Comments (3)
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written by Edward Narrowbent, February 05, 2010
Dude, you didn't read the reference. It's typically ideological to dismiss something because of the "source." The piece in reference was written by Me. David Matas, mentioned in my previous comment. Have a look.
[If you are David Matas, why the pseudonym? As you notice, "David" I've not published the second paragraph of your dissertation. As a "lawyer" I'm sure you'll understand why I can't republish a string of unsubstantiated allegations of criminality. That stinks of the kind of red baiting witnessed in the postings of Richard Warman, a colleague of David Matas' at B'nai Brith, and fellow Nakba denier. Talk about ideology! Bidding adieu M. Anonyme. -ed.]
[If you are David Matas, why the pseudonym? As you notice, "David" I've not published the second paragraph of your dissertation. As a "lawyer" I'm sure you'll understand why I can't republish a string of unsubstantiated allegations of criminality. That stinks of the kind of red baiting witnessed in the postings of Richard Warman, a colleague of David Matas' at B'nai Brith, and fellow Nakba denier. Talk about ideology! Bidding adieu M. Anonyme. -ed.]
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written by Edward Narrowbent, February 06, 2010
Au nom de dieu! I'm not David Matas. "Me." is an abbreviation of title en francais: it means "maitre," someone who is a lawyer. You people are a bit crazy.
[How stupid (and crazy of Me.). Now, run along and play troll with someone else, whoever you pretend to be. - ed.]
[How stupid (and crazy of Me.). Now, run along and play troll with someone else, whoever you pretend to be. - ed.]
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That's already two or three mishaps in just the beginning of your little piece. Braun has not declared anything invalid. I believe his point was that employees were coerced into signing, and some did not even sign though it did not stop managers from using their names and declaring the petition to be unanimous. In some parts of the world, that's called fibbing, and using people's names in such ways is called fraud.
It's hard to get truths in hard times.
[And that would be your "true" name then would it, "Ed"? Let's look at your version of truth:
Yes, saying; "Dr. Braun has been in the Chair for sometime now..." is quite true, but lacks meaning. Are you refuting that Braun is "new" to the board? I could as easily say; as he is not the original head of the board, he is "new" in at least as meaningful a way as saying he has been there "some time." But I said neither. The "Johnny-come-lately referenced the very recent solidification of control of the entity. That much is evidenced by their late distinctly dictatorial behaviour. For the record though, the professor accepted the post in March of last year, (fairly recent as things go I would think).
I wasn't aware Mr. Harper appointed the entirety of the Canadian board members (I'll check your veracity later), but I did fail to mention the resignation of two members in recent weeks; though its contained within links in the article. Here's a block quote on one of those resigning in disgust:
"One international board member — Sima Simar of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission — resigned in protest over what she saw as a hostile takeover of the board. Another board member resigned as well."
That your reference is to Ezra Levant speaks for itself.
Two or three mishaps? Can you not handle complex numbers, Ez...er "Ed"? - ed.]