Civil society responds to Dick Cheney’s scheduled Vancouver appearance
‘Laws against war crimes must be enforced’
What: Press conference by civil society and local politicians regarding Dick Cheney’s upcoming visit to Vancouver.
When: 12:30pm Friday, September 23
Where: W2 Media Cafe (111 W. Hastings, at Abbott)
Who: Statements will be made by Vancouver-Kingsway Member of Parliament Don Davies, Immigration Critic for the Official Opposition, Gail Davidson of Lawyers Against War, and Derrick O’Keefe of the StopWar Coalition and the Canadian Peace Alliance, as well as other spokespeople for civil society groups.
Why: Former U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney has chosen Vancouver as the first stop outside of the United States for his ongoing book tour. Local anti-war and human rights activists, and other civil society groups, have organized to demand that the Canadian government, in accordance with both Canadian and international law, arrest Cheney for war crimes including authorizing torture.
“Canada has very clear laws against war crimes, and is a signatory to myriad international treaties and conventions pertaining to the laws of war, and this is why we are demanding that the Canadian government take action to arrest Dick Cheney when he enters Canada next Monday, September 26 in Vancouver,” said Gail Davidson of Lawyers Against War. “Cheney is responsible for helping launch an illegal war on Iraq and for authorizing torture – Canada’s laws against war crimes must be enforced in this case,” said Davidson.
Cheney is to be hosted by ‘Le Bon Mot’ book club, which has an event scheduled for the evening of Sept. 26 at the Vancouver Club. The StopWar Coalition has called for a protest outside the event (915 W. Hastings, at Hornby), beginning at 5:30p.m. on the 26th.
Media Contacts
Derrick O’Keefe: 604.803.6927
Gail Davidson: 604-738-0338
