ZGram - 3/13/2003 - "Forked Tongue Amnesty International Canada on Ernst Zundel"

[irimland@zundelsite.org]

ZGram - Where Truth is Destiny:  Now more than ever!

March 13, 2003

Good Morning from the Zundelsite:

My apologies for not sending yesterday's ZGram - this is its 
substitute.  At the end of the day, with all the demands, all the 
phone calls, all the coordination etc. that are now my responsibility 
alone, I feel so frazzled I cannot even look at my computer.  A 
heartfelt thank you to those of you who have sent in your financial 
support - I will do my best in the coming week to dig into our formal 
thank you notes!  That used to be Ernst's job, but now it is one 
added chore of mine.  I look with dread at my "out-basket"!

Still nothing new to report about Ernst Zundel, and communication is 
very difficult.  There are only restricted times when he can call - 
and only collect, which rules out cell phones,  answering machines 
etc.  Nobody can call in, except in a dire emergency.  When I try to 
leave a message, Ernst gets it late, gets it garbled, or does not get 
it at all.  Even attorneys get discouraged and drop out because 
Thorold, where he is being held, is off the beaten path and it is 
difficult and time-consuming to travel there - and it is horribly 
expensive for us, since we get billed by the hour, even travel time. 
Even mail is severely restricted - and he told me that he has to 
write on the seat of his toilet, the only surface that he has for 
writing. 

It becomes ever more clear why Ernst is being held in detention in 
the first place - so a meaningful defense against the obscene charge 
that he is a "security risk to Canada" is impossible.  What has he 
ever done that would justify such a ridiculous claim?  His enemies 
don't even claim he MIGHT do something in the future, they say that 
HIS SUPPORTERS MIGHT. 

Apparently two hearings about Ernst's landed immigrant claim/asylum 
application have already been held, only one of which Ernst attended. 
Media were not allowed at either one, even though they were entitled 
to be there.  A final hearing will take place in about a week or so, 
which will decide his fate. 

I will keep you posted to the extent that I can.

=====

A friend from Canada wrote:

"This was posted to the [BNF] Yahoo forum.  I thought you might find it
of some interest."

And he added:  

I don't think Ernst has ever been convicted of a "crime of hate", at 
least not in North America."

That is exactly right.  Not that Ernst's enemies haven't tried, but 
even the Canadian authorities, always so eager to dance to the tune 
of the Canadian Jewish minority, refused to lay charges regarding 
"hate crimes" because they knew they could not win.  That's why we 
had the Kangaroo Court of the Human Rights Tribunal where truth was 
not a defense and only Jewish feelings counted. 

Remember how "antisemitism" was defined by that shameful, 
undemocratic outfit misnamed "Human Rights Tribunal"?  If a Jew said 
something critical about another Jew - why, that was a family 
quarrel.  But if Ernst Zundel said something identically critical 
about a Jew, that was "lethal antisemitism."  And these people want 
to be respected - never mind liked or even loved?

A Zundel supporter wrote from Scotland to Amnesty International 
Canada, complaining about Canada's treatment of Ernst Zundel who is 
still held in detention, where communication, even with his 
attorneys, is severely restricted - even though he isn't charged with 
anything:

Dear Sir/Madam,

"I write to complain about the stance taken by your branch of Amnesty 
International as regards the detention of Ernst Zundel.  Freedom of 
thought and speech is a right that must be protected, yet AI Canada 
has not only failed to support this ideal but has actively taken up 
the cudgels
on behalf of organised Zionism by calling for Zundel's 'deportation' 
to Germany.  This is an outrage, and one that has cost AI my long 
term membership here in the UK.  Please take time to read the short 
poem by Scottish poet Robert Burns.             

"Here's freedom to him who would speak,
Here's freedom to him who would write,   
For there's none ever feared
that the truth should be heard,
Save he who the truth would indict.

"You in Canada should be ashamed to call your 'organisation' Amnesty 
International.   You have betrayed the very name.

"Signed in disgust,

"Mr. John Ross, Scotland"

Now read the answer of Samantha Burdett, Amnesty International's
Information Services Coordinator:

[START]

Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 11:58 AM

Subject: complaint

Dear Mr. Ross,

I am attaching an editorial written by the Secretary-General of AI Canada
on the Zundel case, it clearly states our position on this case and
explains why we hold this position.

The Zundel Affair: Troubling Case, But the Principle is Clear

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights says it simply: everyone shall
have the right to seek asylum.  Everyone.  It is one of the most crucial
human rights safeguards that exists in our violent, unjust world.  When
terror and fear reign at home and one's own government is the source of the
problem or refuses to be part of the solution, individuals must be able to
turn to the world community for safety.  The right to seek asylum is a
vital means of preventing human rights violations.  It is also a right
under siege around the world as governments devise an expanding arsenal of
laws and practices meant to keep refugees out.  But the devastating reality
is that keeping refugees out very often means condemning them to face the
very persecutors they are trying to flee.

This week we have learned that Ernst Zundel might be seeking refugee status
in Canada.  His case puts this fundamental principle to a very difficult
test. The widespread reaction has been that to allow a claim by this 
man, notorious for his crimes of hate, makes a mockery of the very 
notion of asylum.  But the principle must hold.  It does and 
absolutely must apply to everyone.  The impartiality of Canada's 
refugee system and the best chance for safety of the thousands who 
turn to it for protection every year, lies
in simply letting the system do its job.

There can be no space for political interference, dictating whose case
should be heard and whose not.  We know that the worldover, political
interference ends up in refugees being denied the protection they deserve:
nationals of a particular country denied status because of a politician's
discriminatory attitudes, claims made by women turned down because of a
government's refusal to recognize women's rights, adherents to a certain
religion or political movement rejected because of a host country's foreign
policy concerns.  Interference and selectivity puts refugees at risk.  Once
we allow it, where do we draw the line?

Maintaining the integrity of Canada's refugee system, however, is also a
crucial government responsibility.  It must be protected from abuse and
manipulation.  If the system's integrity fails, real refugees will suffer
in the end.   As such, officials could accelerate their consideration of
this claim, to ensure that it is dealt with expeditiously, but fairly, and
does not linger. This keeps both the sanctity of the right and the
integrity of the process intact.

At the same time, of course, hate crimes allegations against Mr. Zundel
continue to demand investigation and justice. Our own Canadian Human Rights
Commission has already ruled that he has spread hatred through the
internet.  Strong hate crimes laws, vigorously enforced,  are a crucial
human rights tool.  Refugees know the devastating human cost of hate
firsthand.  Amnesty International and other groups have pressed Canada to
improve its laws and practices in this area, including with respect to
Holocaust denial when it is motivated by hate.  These obligations must also
be at the forefront of the government's response to Mr. Zundel's renewed
interest in Canada.

The refugee process and the justice system: the two should go hand in hand.
Someone may be in Canada while their claim is being assessed or perhaps
should not be deported because they face torture abroad.  But at the same
time they may have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity or hate
crimes, for which they absolutely must face criminal prosecution.  Sadly
governments, including Canada often get this wrong - willing to deport,
unwilling to prosecute.  But we cannot simply export the problem cases to
other countries with fingers crossed that someone else will do the right
thing.  We need actively to ensure that justice will be the response (if
not abroad, then here at home).   Yes, justice is sometimes difficult,
perplexing, and even costly.  But it is the road we must travel.

Sincerely,

Samantha Burdett
Information Services Coordinator
Amnesty International Canada
<mailto:sburdett@amnesty.ca>sburdett@amnesty.ca
613 744 7667 extn. 249

Visit our online library at 
<http://www.amnesty.ca/library>http://www.amnesty.ca/library

[END]

What is she saying?  Charge and convict, so Amnesty International 
gets off the hook?  She knows perfectly well that Ernst has NEVER 
been accused of a hate crime in Canada or the United States!   

Has anybody from Amnesty International even bothered to give Ernst a 
call or find out some of the facts before joining in the chorus of 
condemnation?

This reply by Amnesty International is now being bandied about on the 
Net, where millions can see the double standard and draw their own 
conclusions.

Ingrid

=====